Scientists Geoffrey Hawtin and Cary Fowler have received what is considered the Nobel Prize for food for having promoted the creation of the World Seed Bank in Savlbard, in Norway. This center stores more than 1.2 million seed samples that are preserved at a temperature of -18ºC in underground chambers.
The Savlbard Vault works in a similar way to a bank safe deposit box, as explained on their website, but it keeps copies of the species it receives from other banks, to preserve them in the face of the danger of wars or natural disasters and to guarantee the provision of food.
The World Food Prize, with which the work of this bank has been recognized, was created in 1986 by Norman Borlaug, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, in order to recognize those who collaborate in quality and global availability of food, according to the organizers of this award in a publication.
The FAO determined that more than three-quarters of food crops were lost in the last century. And, according to the latest study carried out on plant genetic resources in 2010, 22% of wild species close to crops such as beans or peanuts are in danger of disappearing in 2055 due to climate change.
This organization defends the creation of banks of plant genetic resources, that is, plant genetic material – which includes fungi – to fight for the conservation of crops. Even so, they warn of inequality in accessing these resources, given that almost half of the material that is conserved is concentrated in 12 countries. That is why in a statement they express the need to adopt, in parallel, measures that promote equitable access.
In our country, the brothers of El Celler de Can Roca are leaders in the commitment to protect variety and promote diversity in the cultivation of edible plants. For years, they have been working to include more plant species in their dishes and even those that are not so common in the kitchen.
In 2021 they launched the ‘Sowing the Future’ initiative with BBVA, to raise awareness about the need to adopt responsible eating habits and the impact of agricultural production, consumption and eating habits on the health of the planet.
For Joan Roca, co-owner of the restaurant, this project reflects “the shadows of food,” according to a BBVA report, and this same system is the main cause of the degradation of biodiversity due to the overexploitation of natural resources. like water, forests and land.
This joint project materialized in a documentary, which shows the journey that the Rocas undertook to find products that their mother took in childhood, some of which are now extinct. The short film shows the Rocas’ journey through Spain and countries around the world, until they reach the Svalbard Global Seed Bank.
