For the first time in history, olive seeds will be deposited in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, the world’s largest genetic security facility, located in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard. The initiative, led by the International Olive Council, marks a milestone in the conservation of one of the world’s oldest and most emblematic crops and reinforces the international commitment to agricultural biodiversity and food security.
On 25 February, the International Olive Council will take part in a delegation depositing a first batch of olive seeds on the island of Spitsbergen, near Longyearbyen, home to what is widely known as the “Doomsday Vault.” Built deep inside a mountain and protected by Arctic permafrost, the facility maintains seeds at a constant temperature of −18°C, allowing them to be preserved for decades or even centuries. Designed as a global backup system, the vault stores duplicate seed samples from gene banks around the world to safeguard them against natural disasters, conflicts, technical failures, or the effects of climate change.
Although the olive tree is a crop that dates back thousands of years and has played a central role in the development of Mediterranean civilizations, no institution had previously preserved its seeds in Svalbard. This gives the initiative historic and symbolic significance, officially incorporating the olive tree into the world’s largest reserve of plant genetic resources.
The seeds traveling to the Arctic come from the living olive tree collection of the Germplasm Bank managed by the University of Córdoba, which hosts more than 700 varieties originating from countries across five continents, as well as from wild olive trees collected by the University of Granada in the Iberian Peninsula. Many of these varieties were originally obtained from member countries of the International Olive Council, ensuring that the genetic diversity of olive-growing regions worldwide will be represented in this global reserve.
Before shipment, the seeds underwent a rigorous technical process that included controlled drying to remove moisture, germination tests to ensure viability, and hermetic sealing in special envelopes carefully labeled with detailed information about their identity and origin. They were then packed in reinforced boxes and transported by land and air to Longyearbyen, where authorized personnel coordinated their reception and placement in the vault’s underground storage chambers. The deposit does not involve the transfer of genetic ownership, as each gene bank retains property rights over its seeds; the vault serves solely as a secure backup.
Beyond its symbolic value, the project has a fundamental scientific and strategic dimension. The olive tree possesses vast genetic diversity accumulated over centuries of domestication and adaptation to different environments. However, this diversity now faces threats such as desertification, emerging pests and diseases, agricultural intensification, and the homogenization of commercial varieties. Preserving seeds in Svalbard ensures that, in the event of loss of local or regional collections, genetic material can be recovered for research and breeding programs.
The inclusion of wild olive trees is particularly significant, as these specimens may contain genes that confer resistance to drought, salinity, or disease—traits that are essential for addressing the challenges posed by climate change. In this way, the initiative not only protects agricultural heritage but also secures key genetic resources for innovation and the future resilience of the crop.
The project is supported by Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and involves scientific collaboration with institutions such as the Spanish National Research Council and the National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology, along with international backing from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The initiative also stems from European research projects such as GEN4OLIVE, which focus on the characterization and valorization of olive genetic resources.
With this step, the olive tree—symbol of peace, culture, and Mediterranean tradition—becomes part of the world’s largest genetic insurance policy. Its entry into the Arctic vault not only safeguards its historical legacy but also strengthens its role as a strategic crop for future food security and agricultural sustainability.
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