The Svalbard Global Seed Vault has been nominated for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, highlighting the growing recognition of food security as a cornerstone of global stability. The nomination, submitted by Geir Pollestad, also includes key partners such as NordGen, Food and Agriculture Organization, Crop Trust, and CGIAR.
In the nomination, Pollestad emphasized that food security is a fundamental condition for peace, particularly in a world increasingly affected by climate change, natural disasters, and conflict. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault plays a critical role in this context, safeguarding more than 1.3 million seed samples from nearly every country. A significant share of these collections represents crops adapted to dry and vulnerable regions.
© World Vegetable Center
"I, and I am certain my fellow Trustees as well, at the Almarai Prize for Food Security in DryLands, heartily agree with the foregoing nomination," said Joel Cuello of the nomination.
In 2025, ICARDA was named the inaugural recipient of the Almarai Prize for Food Security in Dry Lands, which carries a prize of US$500,000. The award underscores the importance of innovation and research in addressing food insecurity in some of the world's most challenging environments.
The Nobel Peace Prize nomination for the Seed Vault and its partners reflects a broader understanding of the link between agricultural biodiversity, food systems, and global peace. Planning is already underway for the next edition of the Almarai Prize, scheduled to be awarded in 2027.
Source: Joel Cuello
