Safeguarding Africa’s future: 100,000 seeds deposited in Svalbard Vault

Over 100,000 seeds from 177 species across Africa were recently deposited in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway. Often called the “Doomsday Vault,” this repository is designed to safeguard the world’s crop diversity in the event of global crises. Among the latest additions are seeds from plants that are essential for building climate resilience, such as Faidherbia albida, which enriches soil with nitrogen, and Cordia africana, a tree prized for its strength and durability.

Dr. Éliane Ubalijoro, chief executive of the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), delivered the seeds, expressing a profound sentiment about their significance. “For me, seeds are about hope,” Ubalijoro said. “They’re about moving beyond survival, particularly when you come from places that have gone through really difficult times.” Ubalijoro, who hails from Rwanda, drew on the experience of her home country, which relied on seed banks to rebuild after the 1994 genocide.

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