Ukraine transfers samples from national seed collection to Global Seed Vault on Spitsbergen
Ukraine has transferred seed samples from its national collection to the Global Seed Vault on the Svalbard Archipelago in Norway – an international reserve for the conservation of plant genetic resources, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
Ukraine has transported seed samples from its national collection to the Global Seed Vault on Svalbard, Norway, according to the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The transfer included 773 samples from 10 different crops, marking the second time Ukrainian genetic material has been sent to Svalbard since Russia's full-scale invasion began.
This action is crucial for preserving Ukraine's national plant gene pool and agricultural biodiversity during the ongoing conflict. The ministry emphasized that safeguarding the national plant gene pool is vital for national security and ensuring food stability for future generations, as Russian aggression has directly threatened Ukrainian agricultural science and strategic resources.
Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Taras Vysotsky expressed gratitude to international partners for their support in protecting Ukraine's agricultural heritage, which significantly contributes to global food security. Over 10% of Ukraine's entire national seed collection, totaling nearly 154,300 samples, has been transferred to date.
The preservation efforts were made possible through a FAO initiative, with financial support from the EU, in collaboration with the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, the Crop Trust, NordGen, and technical assistance from the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Ukraine joined the agreement in August 2026.
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