Latest news with #SvalbardGlobalSeedVault
Rakyat Post
19-05-2025
- Business
- Rakyat Post
From Malaysian Kitchen to Arctic Vault: Local Herb Mix Makes It To The 'Doomsday' Seed Bank
Subscribe to our FREE In the icy wilderness of the North Pole lies one of the most secure and surreal places on earth – the Buried deep inside a mountain on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, this facility was built to safeguard the genetic diversity of the world's crops, acting as a backup in case of natural disasters, war, or climate catastrophe. It houses over a million seed samples from across the globe – an insurance policy for humanity's food future. And now, it includes something uniquely Malaysian. In a surprising and heartwarming twist, a small premixed herb product from Malaysia called Herbaratus has earned a spot in the vault. The product's founder, a Malaysian man who started the business from his own kitchen, recently shared the news on TikTok. 'From a small kitchen in Malaysia to the quiet frozen lands at the end of the world. Herbaratus has reached here,' he wrote in the caption, overlaying a photo of the iconic snowy entrance to the seed vault. From humble beginnings to securing future food supply In the post, the founder shares the deeply personal story behind Herbaratus. What started as a simple, homegrown remedy created to help his wife eventually evolved into a product with a much broader vision. He explained that the idea came from a genuine need to create something simple, easy, and useful – especially in tough or extreme circumstances. 'We realised early on how important it is to have something that's convenient but also reliable. Something that anyone could use, even when resources are limited,' he said in the caption. His time in the north pole was not all work and no play, though. A separate video on TikTok shows how Malaysians will stay Malaysians no matter where they are. The Herbaratus founder was handling a rental car delivery which he plans to use for sightseeing, and he went out into the blistering cold in just his t-shirt and kain pelikat. Imagine that. There's someone from Malaysia all the way out in the northern tundra right now, wearing a kain pelikat . Oh and slippers too. A place among the world's most important seeds Inclusion in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault isn't just symbolic – it's a recognition of the potential value of a crop or plant in the broader picture of global food security. The Vault stores seeds from nations, researchers, and even independent developers, and the fact that a Malaysian small-business owner could contribute speaks volumes about the evolving understanding of what counts as essential for the future. The inclusion of Herbaratus in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault not only puts Malaysia on the map in a unique way, but also highlights how local, heartfelt innovations can find a place in humanity's global future. As climate uncertainty and global instability loom larger than ever, stories like this remind us that sometimes, the solutions of tomorrow can come from the quiet corners of today. Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
Daily Maverick
22-04-2025
- Science
- Daily Maverick
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is humanity's safety net for food security
Deep in the Arctic Circle, approximately 800km from the North Pole, lies Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago. Here, one finds Earth's northernmost permanent human settlements. It is also the location of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault (SGSV), a natural freezer, and home to a growing number — more than 1.3 million — of seed samples from around the world. These seeds have been carefully selected to ensure humanity's food security in the face of a rapidly changing climate and global conflicts. The loss of a food species and the genes associated with millennia of selective breeding is irreversible. The destruction caused by climate change and conflicts has made it more urgent for us to preserve valuable seeds for our survival in an unpredictable world. A selection of seeds of almost every important crop variety is found in the SGSV, with donations made from seed banks around the world. Given its location and temperature, seeds deposited at the SGSV are treated and maintained in conditions that ensure they remain viable for long periods. Last year was a particularly active year for the SGSV. In May 2024, just over 20,000 samples from 15 gene banks across the world were received by the vault for storage. And in October 2024, another 30,000 samples were received from 23 gene banks. The list of contributing countries and institutions is impressive. There has also been a move to store seeds from regions that are destabilised by conflict. For example, seeds of at least 21 species of legumes, vegetables and herbs from Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories were deposited at the SGSV, given the widespread destruction over the last year. The seed vault also expects submissions from Sudan, where civil war has placed an almost unprecedented risk on food security and a further loss of crop security. During the escalation of bombing in Aleppo in 2012, for example, the gene bank in the region was unable to operate. It then turned to the SGSV, where important seeds of the region had already been stored. Withdrawing this valuable resource from the SGSV allowed for the re-establishment of seed banks in other areas (such as Morocco) with similar climatic conditions and the seeds' subsequent reintroduction to markets. This ensures that the valuable genes preserved in the seeds are not lost forever. Freezing conditions Storing seeds in the SGSV under freezing conditions is no simple matter. Not all seeds can be frozen, and not all frozen seeds remain viable after thawing. Only those seeds that are referred to as 'orthodox' are minimally affected by freezing. These can be frozen for extended periods without losing their viability. Once thawed, these seeds readily germinate. There is a highly complicated and sophisticated physiological system that allows such seeds to withstand freezing. On the other hand, however, there are numerous seeds that cannot be frozen. The problem is that seeds contain varying, but significant amounts of water. Unless seeds can manage this water and dehydrate without damage, they cannot be stored by freezing. When water freezes, it expands and forms ice crystals. This is very destructive to seeds, and one can imagine the ice crystals piercing cellular structures, expanding and bursting the cells that make up the seeds, killing the seed or damaging them irreparably. For these seeds, storing in the SGSV is not a simple option. This is where our research comes in. We are plant biotechnologists, and a part of our work seeks to understand the physiology and biochemistry that controls freezing, stress, water management and storage of seeds. We have focused on developing methods to store seeds under varying conditions, including freezing. Among the species that have dominated our work have been those that are highly nutritious but underutilised for food security in South Africa, like Amaranthus dubius (locally referred to as imfino). Little was known about the storage behaviour of this species until our work. The species is widely available and grows readily, making it ideal as a crop to hedge against food insecurity. It is therefore critical that such local species form part of the collection at the SGSV. By understanding the mechanisms that allow Amaranthus seeds to be frozen and remain viable, we hope to be able to extend this knowledge to a variety of other indigenous, high-value, but underutilised crops. Through a series of experiments and steps, we have been able to support Amaranthus seeds to prepare for long-term cold storage by managing dehydration, slowing down seed metabolism, and surviving freezing in liquid nitrogen. Once thawed, these seeds can germinate into fully functional plants. Throughout this process, we carefully monitored the genes that code for seed survival under such stressful conditions, and are now in a position to identify and monitor similar genes across many other species. With this growing body of knowledge, we aim to form a collection of indigenous seeds that can form part of a local collection for deposit at the SGSV. In resource-constrained settings, it is practical to store some seeds for the medium term in a refrigerator, or even at room temperature. This strategy is viable, cost-effective and can support smallholder farmers in conserving seeds for local food production. However, if longer-term storage is required for security against climate change or unforeseen disruptions, cryogenic (frozen) storage is necessary, and the SGSV is the most feasible and cost-effective option for global conservation. This will not only contribute to protecting biodiversity but will also ensure that future generations have access to a resilient and nutritionally rich food supply, no matter what uncertainties lie ahead. DM Prof Muhammad Nakhooda is an associate professor of biotechnology at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). Dr Shakira Shaik is a plant biotechnologist at the University of KwaZulu-Natal's School of Life Sciences. Her specialised expertise lies in bioreactor technology and cryopreservation techniques, with particular emphasis on underutilised crops, medicinal plants and species facing vulnerability or endangerment.
Arab News
25-02-2025
- Science
- Arab News
Arctic ‘doomsday' seed vault gets more than 14,000 new samples
COPENHAGEN: A 'doomsday' vault storing food crop seeds from around the world in man-made caves on a remote Norwegian Arctic island will receive more than 14,000 new samples on Tuesday, a custodian of the facility said. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, set deep inside a mountain to withstand disasters from nuclear war to global warming, was launched in 2008 as a backup for the world's gene banks that store the genetic code for thousands of plant species. Protected by permafrost, the vault has received samples from across the world and played a leading role between 2015 and 2019 in rebuilding seed collections damaged during the war in Syria. 'The seeds deposited this week represent not just biodiversity, but also the knowledge, culture and resilience of the communities that steward them,' Executive Director Stefan Schmitz of the Crop Trust said in a statement. The new contributions include a sample of 15 species from Sudan, consisting of several varieties of sorghum — a plant that is significant both for the country's food security and its cultural heritage, the Crop Trust said. The war between the Rapid Support Forces and the army which broke out in April 2023 has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced 12 million, while plunging half of Sudan into hunger and several locations into famine. 'In Sudan ... these seeds represent hope,' the director of Sudan's Agricultural Plant Genetic Resources Conservation and Research Centre said in a statement. A total of 14,022 new samples will be deposited at 1430 GMT, including seeds of Nordic tree species from Sweden and rice from Thailand, the Crop Trust said.
Euronews
31-01-2025
- Science
- Euronews
Solar grazing, tile whipping and whisky: Positive environmental stories from 2025
Do you share our anxiety about the state of the planet? As green journalists, we are all too familiar with what climate anxiety, climate doom, and even environmental existential dread feel like. These terms all describe the same thing: the negative feelings, such as stress, fear, anger and grief, that come up when we are confronted with the reality of a warming Earth. With almost daily stories of lives lost or ruined by extreme weather, it's hard to escape the consequences of climate change. It's easy to feel helpless and dejected. But as many experts agree, we can use some of those feelings of despair and turn them into action. At Euronews Green, we know we play a key role in combatting climate doom. While it's our job to be truthful and accurate in our reporting and not downplay or greenwash the situation, we also want to highlight that there is always hope. This is why, for the past three years, we've kept track of all the positive environmental news stories throughout the year. Every year we writehundreds of good news stories, from eco-innovations and green breakthroughs to climate wins and feel-good reports on nature. We hope to continue our efforts and keep doubling our numbers each year - because surely that's a good sign of momentum. As climate activist Tori Tsui says, "I think the beautiful thing about climate action is that everyone has a role, whatever that looks like to you". Here are January's top positive stories - including the small and local, the silly that made us smile - and the enormous and potentially world-changing. If you came across a great, positive story that we haven't covered, please reach out to us on Instagram or X to share your ideas. Positive environmental stories from January 2025 How the Arctic tundra is keeping seeds safe for future generations Tucked beyond the Arctic Circle, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault sits proudly in a former coal mine and stores fruit and vegetable seeds from all over the world. Holding over 6,297 crop species, last year saw the highest numbers of depositing genebanks and the highest number of newcomers in the history of the vault, proving that cooperation on conserving seeds is flourishing. How the Scottish whisky industry is inadvertently tackling overfishing A love of the oceans inspired one man to create a sustainable alternative to Omega-3 supplements for both humans and farmed fish. Previously, Omega-3 has relied on wild fish, which takes vital food from coastal communities. The solution also cleans up a problem within Scotland's most popular industry. Whisky wastewater usually ends up in the ocean, but the company MiAlgae uses nutrient-rich byproducts to create dried algae powder through a giant renewably-powered fermentation process. This is then used as aquafeed for farmed fish and pet food. Tile whipping: The eco-friendly sport taking over the Netherlands The Dutch have created a national sport out of tile-whipping to help make the Netherlands 'climate-proof'. Tile whipping - or 'tegelwippen' - sees residents try to remove the most paving slabs from their gardens, ensuring that urban spaces are greened and rewilded. This also eases pressure on drainage systems. Winning communities receive a golden shovel with prizes going to the 'whipper of the month'. How deaf educators put tricky climate change terms into sign language Researchers at the University of Edinburgh wanted to ensure a new generation could be part of climate conversations. This was no mean feat, but British Sign Language has now expanded its vocabulary to include terms such as greenhouse gases, carbon footprint, and sustainability. 'Keep at it': At 74, anti-whaler Paul Watson continues to fight After being released from prison and into the care of the French government, Paul Watson, the founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, a direct action group focused on marine conservation activism, spoke to Euronews Green in early January. Watson, who began protecting whales in 1974, highlighted that very few nations still hunt whales, with Norway, Iceland and Japan the only exceptions, and is increasingly confident about the future of these gentle giants. And so Watson should be, as Euronews Green reported on multiple sightings of the magnificent humpback whale seen by people living along the UK coast - likely due to humpback whale populations having recovered extensively over the past half a century after whaling bans. Scientists transform waste into batteries that could power grid Scientists discovered a way to turn previously useless industrial waste into a vital material used in batteries that could power our future. Discovered by scientists at America's Northwestern University, the redox flow batteries use a chemical reaction to pump energy back and forth between electrolytes. They could be an invaluable solution for energy storage on the scale of an electricity grid and help smooth out the current issue of troughs and peaks in wind and solar supply. Tiny British island is now home to the world's most remote EV charger The island of St Helena in the British Overseas Territory has installed the world's most remote public EV charger in its capital Jamestown. In a trial supported by Norwegian charging company Easee and Japanese car brand Subaru, the hope is that by improving the infrastructure for electric vehicles, more people on the island will ditch their petrol and diesel-powered vehicles and adopt EVs. Italy, Albania and UAE agree deal to share renewable energy Three countries signed a clean energy cooperation deal that means they will share wind and solar energy across the sea. The UAE is lending its technology and expertise to develop Albania's renewable energy. Some of the energy produced from these new technologies will then be transferred to Italy via an underwater cable across the Adriatic Sea. Researcher fired for refusing to fly wins monetary compensation Sticking to your morals does eventually pay off, at least for the Italian climate researcher Dr Gianluca Grimalda, who was fired by his employers for refusing to fly back from a research trip. In a bid to follow his beliefs of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by avoiding flights and instead adopting slow travel, the researcher went viral on social media when he publicly shared his story in early 2024. Grimalda filed a lawsuit for unfair dismissal, and in January, a settlement was agreed. €75,000 of the severance payment will be donated to environmental and climate protection and climate activism. Solar grazing: Why sheep are the perfect partner for photovoltaics Dubbed nature's best lawnmowers, farmers in the USA are waking up to the benefits of keeping sheep on solar farms. Known as agrivoltaics, solar farms now realise the benefits of making good use of the ground underneath solar arrays. Not only is it grazing sheep and other livestock but also growing crops, and keeping bees. Euronews Green shares some of the European projects that have been doing this for ages - and the benefits are numerous. Dutch court orders government to cut nitrogen pollution by 2030 A Dutch court ruled that the government was failing to address critically high levels of nitrogen oxide pollution, mostly from farming and transport, in a case brought by Greenpeace. Nitrogen pollution degrades soils and inadvertently fertilises trees, grasslands and tolerant species, putting them at high risk. This is a huge win as nitrogen pollution is the third most influential driver of human-caused biodiversity loss after habitat destruction and greenhouse gas emissions. Oil and gas workers will be helped to find green jobs in the UK The UK is helping oil and gas workers switch to green energy careers by providing them with a 'skills passport' so that people working in the fossil fuel industry can make informed decisions about their jobs and future. Research has found that around 90 per cent of fossil fuel workers have skills that are relevant to the clean energy transition. The UK government has announced that regional skills investments worth almost £4 million (€4.7m) will help people make the move into clean energy jobs. Solar energy outshines coal in a first for EU energy Solar provided more power than coal did to EU countries for the first time last year, marking a new milestone in the unstoppable rise of renewables. The EU's electricity transition has moved faster than anyone could have hoped for, as the sunlight-soaking renewable generated 11 per cent of EU electricity in 2024, overtaking the dirtiest fossil fuel, coal, which dropped below 10 per cent.
