Did you know the world has a global doomsday seed vault?

Plunging deep inside a mountain on a remote island in the Svalbard archipelago, halfway between Norway and the North Pole, lies a global insurance policy seed vault. Every type of the world’s crop seeds – the largest collection of crop diversity on the planet – is stored here. The millions of seeds have been contributed by almost every country in the world – including Australia. It’s a collective planet pantry of important grain and pasture crop varieties such as rice, maize, wheat, eggplant, barley, lettuce and potato. The bunker is built to stand the test of time and the challenge of natural or man-made disasters. In case of any eventuality, the vault means that we would be able to restore the world’s food crops.

Containing a series of underground chambers, the vault penetrates more than 100 metres into the mountain, with just the entrance visible. Thanks to permafrost and the thick rock it sits deep within, the precious cargo of seeds will remain frozen even without power. The vault is also located far above sea level, protected from flooding if sea levels rise.

The Norwegian Government funded construction of the vault, which now operates on donations from foundations, governments, the private sector and individuals.

croptrust.org

Why are nearly 60 per cent of Australian mortgages written through a mortgage broker like me?

• I give you access to multiple loans from multiple lenders, providing you with the benefits of competition and choice.
• I do the hard yards on your behalf when it comes to researching for a home loan that suits you. Buying a home is exciting, but it can be stressful – I can help ease any pain points by dealing with the lender and managing your application all the way to approval.
• Because I work for my customers, and not the banks, my sole focus is finding a loan that is the right fit for you. Together we’ll look at your unique circumstances, your financial situation and goals, before I recommend a loan that makes financial sense for you.
• It’s my job to stay up to date with what is happening in the market so I make the right recommendations for my customer. I stay across industry, economic and regulatory shifts so you don’t have to worry about any unexpected roadblocks.

Festive Fish Feast

While a glazed ham and roast turkey might be the traditional heroes of a festive table, let’s face it – a sunny Aussie Christmas lends itself to a table laden with a sensational seafood spread. Be it prawns, oysters, crayfish or smoked salmon, thrown on the barbecue or prepared the day before and served chilled. Let’s step through a few ideas for a festive seafood feast.

Don’t come the raw prawn with me: serve fresh prawns simply cooked and chilled on a big platter with wedges of lemon and a citrusy dipping sauce. Or throw them on the barbie – marinating and grilling seafood is a match made in heaven. Perhaps lightly dress fresh cooked and chopped prawns with sour cream, parsley and a squeezed and zested lemon before heaping it onto toasted slices of baguette for a jaunty canape-style starter. Prawns always please a peckish pack.

The world is your oyster: fresh oysters that taste of the sea are perfection au natural, but they also sing when topped with an Asian-inspired sweet and sour dressing. Or go retro and bring back oysters Kilpatrick – bacon makes everything better!

Go the whole hog: a whole salmon looks so impressive as the centerpiece of a festive table, and take your pick of cooking methods: it can be poached, baked (with capers and fresh herbs), barbecued or cured gravlax style. Or visit the fishmonger for a whole snapper and bake it en papillote with heaps of fresh herbs, lemon and olive oil.