Morocco is among the countries whose olive varieties are now preserved in the Global Seed Vault in Svalbard, Norway. For the first time, olive seeds have been included in this polar facility dedicated to the long-term conservation of global agricultural resources.
The initiative, announced by the International Olive Council (IOC), marks a significant milestone in the preservation of the genetic heritage of an emblematic crop of the Mediterranean basin, now grown on all five continents.
### Preserving Heritage Against Climate Risks
The seeds deposited come from trees resulting from open pollination, preserved by the World Olive Germplasm Bank in Córdoba, which houses over 700 varieties from IOC member countries, including Morocco.
The integration of these resources into the Svalbard vault aims to ensure their conservation against threats related to climate change, biodiversity loss, and the emergence of new pests and diseases.
According to the IOC, these seeds represent the legacy of generations of farmers who have selected resilient trees adapted to various environments. Their conservation guarantees the possibility of preserving and developing varieties capable of addressing contemporary agricultural challenges.
### An Agricultural Sovereignty Issue
The initiative is part of the European GEN4OLIVE project, in collaboration with the IOC and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. The shipments sent also include seeds from wild olives collected in Spain and the Canary Islands.
A duplicate of the samples is stored at the Center for Plant Genetic Resources in Spain, under conditions identical to those in Svalbard, at -18 °C, to ensure maximum security.
For the international bodies involved, protecting agricultural diversity is a long-term commitment. Scientists emphasize that genetic diversity is a key factor in ensuring crop resilience and enabling the development of new varieties adapted to future constraints.
### Recognition for Morocco’s Olive Sector
For Morocco, a major player in the Mediterranean olive sector, the presence of its varieties in this global reserve represents a strong signal. Beyond the scientific dimension, this inscription highlights the value of an agricultural heritage shaped over centuries.
By joining the Global Seed Vault in Svalbard, Morocco’s genetic resources for olives are now part of an international framework aimed at preserving food security and biological diversity on a global scale.