Warwick’s UK Vegetable Genebank Deposits Seeds in Secret Arctic Vault
By Jill Dando News
A major crop boost is on ice – literally – as Britain sends hundreds of vegetable seed samples to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in the Arctic, the world’s ultimate backup for our food future.
The UK Vegetable Genebank at the University of Warwick has packed off 286 prized samples from classic British crops like carrots, cauliflower, lettuce, broccoli and parsnips.
These seeds, gathered from 37 countries, will now sit safely in Svalbard’s icy stronghold – a high-security bunker designed to protect global crop diversity from war, disaster or climate meltdown.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy handed over the precious cargo, calling it a vital step in safeguarding our food supply.
“We’re preserving the seeds of our future – making sure the vegetables we love today can survive and thrive tomorrow,” he said.
The move is part of a global push to build resilience against the effects of climate change and biodiversity loss. The vault already holds over 1.3 million varieties of food crops – a genetic treasure chest developed by farmers and scientists over thousands of years.
Dr Charlotte Allender, head of the UK Vegetable Genebank, said: “Saving seed diversity is about ensuring we can grow stronger, more resilient crops. We’re proud to be part of this global effort to futureproof food.”
Thanks to innovative research and international cooperation, the UK is helping lead the charge in securing tomorrow’s harvest – one seed at a time.
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