Seed samples of Uzbekistan’s ancient and local crops have been placed in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway, the world’s largest and most secure seed storage facility.

The initiative was carried out through close cooperation between the Research Institute of Plant Genetic Resources under the National Center for Knowledge and Innovation in Agriculture, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Nordic Genetic Resource Center (NordGen).

This contribution marks an important milestone in Uzbekistan’s efforts to preserve the genetic diversity of its crops, strengthen the national gene pool, and contribute to global food security. The deposited seeds represent valuable elements of Uzbekistan’s agricultural heritage — genetic samples of ancient varieties and local ecotypes. The collection includes more than 20 native varieties of melon, watermelon, tomato, pepper, eggplant, carrot, onion, and wheat, with the local wheat variety “Qayroqtosh” noted as particularly significant.

According to representatives of the Research Institute of Plant Genetic Resources, the initiative reflects Uzbekistan’s strong commitment to protecting plant biodiversity, supporting global food security, and preserving genetic resources for future generations.

Located deep within the Arctic permafrost, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault maintains a constant temperature of –18°C and currently stores more than 1.1 million seed samples. It serves as a long-term backup for seed collections from gene banks around the world, safeguarding duplicates against loss due to natural disasters, conflict, financial crises, or technical failures. The facility is jointly managed by the Government of Norway, the Crop Trust, and NordGen.

Uzbekistan’s contribution to the Svalbard Seed Vault reaffirms the country’s role in the global scientific community and its adherence to international commitments on conserving genetic resources. Implemented in partnership with FAO and NordGen, the initiative not only strengthens the national gene pool but also contributes to sustainable agricultural development in the region.

This step serves as a clear demonstration of Uzbekistan’s practical contribution to agricultural science, its historical heritage, and global food security.