The Doomsday Vault
By friskimage
@friskimage (170)
United States
May 30, 2009 3:25pm CST
Have you heard of the Doomsday Vault? It is a huge vault or warehouse that has been built into the side of a mountain on an island near the Arctic ocean.
The purpose is to warehouse seeds from all over the world in case of a catastrophe. It is planned to store over 2 billion seeds from around the world. It is also known as the "Svalbard Global Seed Vault".
In many areas, modern-day agriculture is using the same strains or varieties of crops. Because of the loss in crop diversity, modern-day crops would be more vulnerable to disease on a large scale basis. In the old days, there were many different varieties of crops, which means that if a disease started to spread, it would likely only wipe out certain varieties.
But today, agriculture lacks diversity. If there were to be some worldwide outbreak of a disease that infects crops, it could have global effects.
2 people like this
4 responses
@laceycyoung (330)
• United States
12 Oct 09
I have heard of it, and truthfully I believe the older crops and older seeds would be best. Because most of these newer crops are more easily diseased due to GM crops. One never knows it may work or it may not.
@friskimage (170)
• United States
12 Oct 09
I believe that it will work, as the seeds are being stored at the optimal temperature. I just hope that an emergency situation never arises where we will have to use them. Although I do think that it is possible that GMO crops may take over the world at some point in the future and generations to come will realize the mistake. They can then take these seeds out of storage and repopulate the earth with the natural plants, therefore restoring nature to what it once was.
@friskimage (170)
• United States
26 Jul 09
I also hope that they are banking plant species in areas where deforestation is causing extinction, like the rainforest. I think the Discovery channel is also where I heard about it.
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
30 May 09
Hey fristkimage, that pretty interesting information. I am going to have to do a search on it and read more. I like unique little tidbits like this. It is fun to bring them up at gatherings with people. Keeps the conversation from getting dull. My old neighbor is always coming up with unique stuff like this.
Thanks for sharing!
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
23 Jul 09
what a great idea. hopefully tho, the seeds will be good for many years?
@friskimage (170)
• United States
23 Jul 09
The seeds are expected to last for centuries. That is because they are being stored in a mountain in the arctic. Because of the controlled environment the seeds will be good for a long time to come. Thanks for your comment.
