On Wednesday 25. February, the Minister of Agriculture and Food, Mr. Lars Peder Brekk, with guests, paid a visit to Ny-Ålesund and Kings Bay AS. They were hosted by Director Jon Erik Nygaard and Research Adviser, Mr. Bendik Eithun Halgunset.

The company received an introduction about the infrastructure of the community and the research that is taking place here. In addition, Mrs. Cecilie von Quillfeldt, Senior Adviser at Norwegian Polar Institute in Longyearbyen, gave an informative brief about climate changes. The Norwegian Minister was visiting Svalbard to host the Svalbard Global Seed Vault First Anniversary Seminar in Longyearbyen the day after. Mr. Lars Peder Brekk's guests in Ny- Ålesund were; Mrs Suman Suhai, Gene Campaign, India - Mr. Alexander Müller, Food and Agriculture Organisation, Italia - Mr. Mark Cackler, World Bank, USA and Mr. Ottar Løvik from The Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Norway.

Lars Peder Brekk, Alexander MÜller, Suman Suhai and Mark Cackler