The Philippines
January 9, 2026
More than 4,000 rice samples from the Philippines have been stored in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway to protect the country’s rice genetic diversity from climate and disaster risks.
The deposit includes 4,417 rice seed samples developed and conserved by the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice), marking the first time in four decades that the Philippine rice seed duplicates have been stored outside its borders.
Often referred to as the “Doomsday Vault,” the facility is carved into a mountain within the Arctic Circle as a global back up storage site for crop seeds. It is managed by the Crop Trust to ensure long-term availability of plant genetic resources in case national or regional seed collections are lost.
The Philippine collection includes rice varieties from across the country including heirloom types such as Dinorado and Milagrosa, which are valued by farmers for their distinct aroma, soft texture, and cultural significance.
“This deposit highlights the critical role of seed duplication for long-term conservation. By storing identical seed samples in secure, distant locations like the Svalbard Vault, we safeguard our genetic heritage against irreversible loss due to natural or human-induced disasters, and other unforeseen threats,” Dr. Jonathan M. Niones, head of PhilRice’s Genetic Resources Division (GRD), said.
A second batch of seeds, consisting of newly collected and unique accessions, is planned for future deposit.
Additional safety duplicates will also be stored at PhilRice branch stations and with partner institutions in neighboring Asian countries.
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