Superman had it right: if you want to keep something safe, build a mountain fortress above the Arctic Circle. That’s the thinking — more or less — behind the Svalbard Global Seed Vault.

Almost every nation keeps collections of native seeds so local crops can be replanted in case of an agricultural disaster.

The Global Seed Vault, opened in 2008 on the far-northern Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, is a backup for the backups.

Almost every nation keeps collections of native seeds so local crops can be replanted in case of an agricultural disaster.

The Global Seed Vault, opened in 2008 on the far-northern Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, is a backup for the backups.

Even if the facility loses power, the Arctic climate should keep the seeds viable for thousands of years. Let’s just hope we still like corn then.

Superman had it right: if you want to keep something safe, build a mountain fortress above the Arctic Circle. That’s the thinking — more or less — behind the Svalbard Global Seed Vault.

Almost every nation keeps collections of native seeds so local crops can be replanted in case of an agricultural disaster.

The Global Seed Vault, opened in 2008 on the far-northern Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, is a backup for the backups.

Almost every nation keeps collections of native seeds so local crops can be replanted in case of an agricultural disaster.

The Global Seed Vault, opened in 2008 on the far-northern Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, is a backup for the backups.

Even if the facility loses power, the Arctic climate should keep the seeds viable for thousands of years. Let’s just hope we still like corn then.