At a secret location in Denmark, the Scandinavian countries are storing a unique collection of seeds, described as “priceless” and ”irreplaceable.” These seeds, which include various types of medicinal plants, wheat, carrots, and peas, are kept in a private gene bank to ensure their availability in the event of crises such as wars, natural disasters, or climate change, according to a recently published article by DR.
This group is managed by the NordGen Research Centre and Gene Bank, which was established to ensure the survival and continued use of plants, preventing their extinction due to global crises. The main seed repository is located in Sweden, while Denmark and Norway maintain backups. These facilities are partly funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers, with the remainder covered by research projects.
The Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR) has gained exclusive access to the secret facility in Denmark, where millions of seeds are stored at low temperatures to protect them from damage.
The importance of gene banks in light of increasing threats
According to NordGen CEO Lise Lake Stevenson, the importance of these gene banks is increasing as political unrest, armed conflicts, and climate change threaten food production.
Stevenson emphasizes: “The gene bank is the most important room in the Nordic region. We cannot live without food, and it is essential that we ensure our ability to produce it in the future.”.
For this reason, NordGen has strengthened security measures at its facilities in Denmark and Sweden, as well as at the global seed vault in Svalbard, Norway, where millions of seeds are kept inside a mountain 134 meters deep.
Tight security measures to protect the agricultural treasure
Gene banks are exposed to significant risks, whether from wars or acts of sabotage, which has prompted their management to take strict security measures, including strict restrictions on access to seeds, and constant monitoring via cameras and sensors.
According to Stevenson, the loss of these seeds would have disastrous consequences, as replacing them would cost hundreds of millions of Danish kroner and would require years of work.
She adds: “If we lose these seeds, it will have a devastating impact on the future. We will not have the necessary foundations to ensure the availability of food, feed, fuel, fiber, and even medicines.”.
Due to their enormous value, no insurance company was able to provide coverage for these seeds.
Contents of the gene bank: enormous plant diversity
The Danish repository alone contains 33,000 unique seed samples, stored at -18°C. These seeds include:
- 536 different types of plants
- 238 types of carrots
- 2500 varieties of peas
- 15th-century medicinal plant seeds
- Rare varieties of potatoes dating back to the reign of King Christian IV
In addition to plants, NordGen also works to preserve the genetic resources of animals, such as sheep, pigs, and cows, to ensure a diversity of food sources in the future.
“Noah’s Ark” to save food security
NordGen's role is not limited to storing seeds, but also includes planting, harvesting, and conducting experiments to improve their adaptation to climate change.
Stevenson notes that these efforts became more apparent after the outbreak of war in Ukraine three years ago, as the war caused major disruptions to the global food supply, making the need for gene banks even more urgent.
She concludes by saying, “It’s like Noah’s Ark. These seeds represent both our cultural heritage and our future.”.
This comes at a time when Danish authorities have urged their citizens to stockpile food, water and medicine for three days, as part of preparations to cope with potential crises.
In the event of war or natural disaster, these gene banks will be the first line of defense in maintaining food security for the Nordic countries, thus confirming their strategic importance to all of humanity.
