Why do farm companies have a seed bank hidden in Norway?


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Are they afraid they can't reverse the genetic damage done to plant species?


Banks in Norway, ME



Answer (10):

Buying is Voting

Better safe than sorry. Monsanto had been working on a terminator gene, and plants that have it cannot produce viable seeds, so that farmers would have to purchase seeds from Monsanto (or one of the dozens of seed companies that Monsanto has bought out) every season. Imagine what would happen if the wind/water/birds/insects helped such a plant cross-pollinate through the species.

But there are plenty of other catastrophes that would prove the seed bank useful too.

Cheesesof Nazerath

It's not farm companies, it's a back up to national seed banks.

Most countries have some sort of scheme to preserve genetic diversity. The Svalbard bank came about after one nations seed bank was destroyed in a natural catastrophe, this lead to the development of a bank that was in a geological safe area with conditions suitable for preservation, hence the choice of Svalbard.

It's not about the genetic damage, it's the fear that we could lose a gene and diversity It's a form of insurance not a conspiracy.

Adam B

The seed bank in Svalbard is not hidden. It is designed to help humanity survive a massive cataclysm of some kind should one ever arrive. And it's administered by the Norwegian government and a UN agency, not the "farm companies." Congrats on getting every detail wrong.

Morpheus

Monsanto will one day (soon) engineer a great famine - whether intentionally or by "accident"..... the genetic damage is already irreversible..... Seed banks around the world will become very important.

Too bad America let Satan buy Monsanto - as in the "Omen" films. But it makes the republicans smile from ear to ear.

Paul1945

I heard this seed bank was the size of Noah Ark

300 cubits by 50 cubits by 30 cubits

If we have another ice age or a lot of radiation poisoning

we may need these seeds to start over

maybe you are right too~~who knows?

Cat-astrophe

The US has one too - seeds are preserved in case of natural or man-made disaster - also the answer referencing Monsanto is right on. It fits into my answer to your previous question. Also, Payak is correct about the bees.

PAYAK

That is one of the reasons why it exists. Genetically modified crops are also another reason why some of the bees are dying out.

Planet

1) It's not hidden if everyone on the internet knows about it. 2) It's just the smart thing to do to protect theirs and our future food supply.

Phil M

monsanto is an example of the ugly side of capitalism.

Bummyslim

No, it is in case of a world wide disaster.