Watch Seed Warriors - How will we feed the World - Svalbard Global Seed Vault
- 1970
- 1 hr 25 min
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6.8 (9)
Seed Warriors: How Will We Feed the World - Svalbard Global Seed Vault is a documentary film that explores the importance of preserving seeds for future generations, with a particular focus on the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway. The documentary was released in 2010 and is directed by Mirjam von Arx. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is the largest seed bank in the world and is located in the remote Arctic Svalbard archipelago, about halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole. The vault was built in 2008 to safeguard the world's food supply, by storing replicates of seeds from different countries in secure conditions.
The film explores the potential of the seed vault to save humanity in the event of a global food crisis, highlighting some of the challenges faced by farmers and scientists in maintaining crop biodiversity. It also looks at some of the social, cultural and political aspects of seed preservation and how we may all be affected by changes in agricultural practices, due to climate change, environmental degradation or other factors.
The documentary features interviews with various experts, including seed banks managers, researchers, and farmers who explain how the Svalbard Global Seed Vault was created and operated. They describe the process of collecting and storing seeds, and the technical challenges faced in terms of security, temperature control, and water infiltration prevention.
Also, the documentary showcases some of the scientific research projects that have been initiated from the Svalbard vault, including the recent discovery of a groundbreaking enzyme that can eat plastic, which has the potential to revolutionize plastic waste management.
The film also delves into some of the political and cultural implications of seed storage, exploring the role of countries and private corporations in the global food system, highlighting the conflicts and power struggles around the control of seed production, and how seeds may contribute to the future of sustainable agriculture worldwide.
Throughout the documentary, stunning footage of the Arctic landscape and the seed storage facilities are used to provide context and convey the importance of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, and its mission to preserve the genetic diversity of crops.
In conclusion, Seed Warriors: How Will We Feed the World - Svalbard Global Seed Vault is an informative and engaging documentary that explores the significance of the Svalbard Seed Vault and how it could potentially save humanity in times of dire need. The film serves as a wake-up call to the pressing global challenge of preserving seeds and the importance of continued research and innovation to address the current uncertainties in the global food system.