The olive has officially been added to the Global Seed Vault, which is often referred to as the 'Noah's Ark' for seeds, located in the Svalbard archipelago in Norway. This facility aims to safeguard the genetic diversity of food crops against potential catastrophic events such as natural disasters or war. On this occasion, 1,000 samples of olive varieties were collected by the University of Córdoba and the University of Granada for storage in this significant conservation project.

The Global Seed Vault, featuring thick concrete walls and buried within a frozen mountain, is designed to withstand various threats, including climate change and geopolitical tensions. By preserving varieties of olives, which play a crucial role in Mediterranean agriculture, the Vault helps ensure food security and the continuation of important agricultural practices in the face of global challenges. This initiative is not just about conserving the past; it aims to prepare for future agricultural resilience.

The decision to include olives in this esteemed collection underscores the importance of this crop, both for its cultural significance and its economic value in regions where olive cultivation is a mainstay. The successful preservation of these seeds assures that future generations will have access to a diverse array of olive varieties, maintaining biodiversity and the agricultural heritage associated with this ancient crop. Overall, the Storage acts as a proactive step toward mitigating potential risks to global food supplies.