Svalbard ‘doomsday’ vault receives additional ICARDA seed samples

Accessions are stored in a safe and controlled environment (-18°C / -0.4°F) to ensure their long-term safety and future viability. ICARDA collects, conserves, and protects unique genetic dryland materials that rank among the most important worldwide. ICARDA’s genebank, located in Lebanon and Morocco, is part of CGIAR’s overall genebank network and contains rich collections from the region once known as the birthplace of farming and the ‘Fertile Cresent – rich in landraces and wild relative species with naturally robust genes that evolved over thousands of years of survival and adaptation in harsh conditions – this makes accessions from the Central and West Asia, and North Africa region a valuable resource for building climate adaptation in crops.