Seeds from the UAE find a home in the Arctic to preserve agricultural future
In a historic move to preserve the future of farming, seeds grown in the UAE have been shipped to the Arctic wherethey are now safely housed in the world most secure seed bank.
Home of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, one of our most important assets against these changes, located on an island over the Arctic Circle, half way between Norway and the North Pole.
Researcher 2: In Dubai, the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) meticulously collected and examined these seeds, which is the first-ever contribution from the Gulf region. These seeds really stand out as they also grow in some of the worlds toughest habitats.
The batch also includes seeds from the country's national tree, the iconic Ghaf, which plants had been selected for their incredible heat, drought, and salinity resistance — characteristics necessary to grow in harsh climates.
The frozen vaults of Norway's Svalbard archipelago have hosted 315 seed samples, representing 110 plant species -- including 61 special species and 24 genera -- for decades.
This deposit is an important part of the global effort to secure food production in the face of climate change; the seeds now sit next to some of the other most critical plant genetic resources on the planet. Saving these seeds guarantees future generations access to them, if they need them.
This deposit would have a far-reaching effect, according to Dr Tarifa Alzaabi, director general of ICBA. This is why from the UAE to the Arctic permafrost, the seeds of UAE have travelled in time, ensuring genetic resources for food production for the years ahead, for the generations to come – at the heart of the UAE," he added.
While climate change has made agriculture more difficult, this deposit represents hope, not just for preserving the UAE agricultural legacy but to create resilient, sustainable crops for future generations.
These seeds are the result of decades worth of research into plant breeding biotechnology and adaptation to environmental stress, Alzaabi added. A lot of them are specifically selected for survival in extreme conditions, which gives them irreplaceable importance for food safety of the world. Storing them in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault secures part of the agriculture future, keeping them available for innovation and resilience, for the coming generations.”
What is the Svalbard Global Seed Vault?
Houses Svalbard Global Seed Vault, or as it is better known but less accurately, the Doomsday Vault, which is our last resort for food diversity. A big vault where we safeguard the biggest collection of genetic resources of plants on the planet.
Housed and operated by the Nordic Genetic Resources Centre, the vault is located 1,300km from North Pole to shield seeds from wars, natural disasters, climate change and other global disasters.
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is a backup facility for crop diversity, home to 1.3 million seed samples representing 6,200 species. It was created by a United Nations treaty that also manages more than 1,700 seed banks and offers “the last chance backup plan for our food supply”
At the entrance to the vault are a series of colourful, lit mirrors that reflect brilliantly during the dark Arctic nights and bring in many guests. So from the desert sands of the Arabian Peninsula to the frozen chambers of Svalbard, these seeds are in many ways symbols of resilience, adaptability and survival — one and all a metaphor for the UAE's vision of a sustainable, food-secure future.
Holding more than 17,000 accessions from 325 plant species, the ICBA Genebank is one of the largest global collections of crops that resist drought, heat and salt.
Such a crucial deposit guarantees scientists, farmers, and policymakers of the future access to the seeds that are vital for resilient agriculture.
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