Svalbard Global Seed Vault 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for International Cooperation

Statement by Nils Kristen Sandtrøen, the Norwegian Minister of Agriculture and Food, following the conferral of the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for International Cooperation

“As the Norwegian Minister of Agriculture and Food, I would like to thank the Princess of Asturias Foundation for this honorable award, on behalf of the Norwegian Government and on behalf of our partners the Crop Trust and NordGen. Together we are responsible for the Seed Vault operations, and we have funded the Svalbard Global Seed Vault since it was established nearly 20 years ago. 

Together with more than 130 depositors from all over the world, we have ensured the preservation of as many as 1.3 million seed samples of our most important food crops for the future. This award is an important recognition of the international and intergovernmental cooperation that has made this possible.”

Nils Kristen Sandtrøen 
Norwegian Minister of Agriculture and Food
Oslo, 20th May 2026