Recently scientists have had to open the Svalbard Global Seed Vault (known as the "Doomsday Seed Vault") to retrieve seeds to continue experiments and recoup lost seeds and research. The link below provides great information on the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. It includes videos, text, and further links to the website for Svalbard. The video (2:40) at the top of the page does a great job of explaining the purpose of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault and why it is needed today. There is a second video (1:16) farther down the page that gives a quick overview of seed vaults in general while focusing on Svalbard. I encourage you to explore the information provided and use the discussion points below to guide your conversations.
Arctic Doomsday Vault Opens
Discussion Points
- What is the purpose or why do we need the Svalbard Global Seed Vault (seed vaults in general)?
- What has caused the Svalbard Global Seed Vault to be opened?
- There is a focus on diversity of seeds and crops. Why is it important to preserve this diversity in the interest of global food security?
- The seed vault has many varieties and/or crops that may not exist in nature today. Why is this important?
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