In the build up to the Forum Synergies European Rural Sustainability Gathering 17-20th May, we continue our focus on grassroots initiatives in Greece. Here, we talk to Panagiotis Sainatoudis and Vasso Kanellopoulou. The chat happened at the 17th seed festival of Peliti and the first international Olympic Seed festival in Peliti, Drama, Greece 20-22 April. […]
Around the world, plant breeders are resisting what they see as corporate control of the food supply by making seeds available for other breeders to use. […]
By Paula Dragomir – Agrobiodiversity campaign assistant, Eco Ruralis On 24th-26th of September 2015, Eco Ruralis association participated in “Sow your resistance!” an international event in Lescar-Pau, France, which celebrated peasant seeds from all around the world. This event gathered more than 400 people from civil society movements and local NGO’s from Europe, Africa, South America and Asia. The event was co-organized by the Emmaus community of Lescar-Pau, the French network of peasant seeds Réseau Semences Paysannes and the French NGO for agricultural and social projects BEDE. The innovating, semi-autonomous village of Lescar-Pau – which produces 60% of the food needed by its 140 inhabitants – an extraordinary settlement and inspiring location for conceiving a different and better world. The various participants were involved in discussions, workshops, visits and debates. The program was rich and ambitious. The main demands were for: – Recognition of the indispensable past, present and future contribution of farmers and gardeners to the selection, conservation and renewal of agricultural biodiversity; – Respect and guarantee of the right of farmers to reuse, exchange […]
Despite restrictions, civil society is helping people use traditional seeds. Eco Ruralis report from Romania. […]
Despite restrictions, 95% of producers who sell at markets use traditional seeds, a Romanian Market Study has found. […]
Are Gene Banks a solution in a world of agri-biodiversity decline, or museums of seed diversity? | ARC2020 […]
Written By: Stella Beghini, Agrobiodiversity Campaign Intern for Eco Ruralis At the recent International Forum on Agroecology held in Mali, delegates of peasants and many other groups from all over the world strongly addressed the roots of the crisis concerning our natural and social systems. They claimed agroecology as the real solution to reach environmental justice. The challenges and opportunities of how agroecology can be achieved in Eastern Europe is essential to growing this international movement. The Nyéléni Center in the Malian village of Sélingué held its first Forum in 2007 where food sovereignty was first conceptualized as a holistic approach and vision to agrarian justice. Fast forward to 2015, another meeting of diverse and united groups of peasants, indigenous people, fisherman, agricultural workers and others was held to work on reaffirming agroecology as the solution to mend our broken food and social systems. The delegates pointed out the many challenges that peasants around the world are facing nowadays: the loss of control over natural resources, land and whole knowledge systems that are the basis of our traditions and […]
Participatory seed saving techniques are given a welcome boost in Romania, with the 2015 Eco Ruralis seed catalogue […]
London’s food sovereignty month saw a lively seed exchange weekender. Peter Crosskey reports. […]
A small number of companies and organisations dominate the cereal seed sector in one of the EU’s most important seed producing countries. […]
A magical mystery seed tour of Europe? Find out about it with this enchanting post by Myrto Pispini […]
Why do we swap seeds? What do we gain from freely distributing varieties of vegetables and crops? […]
Civic Society Organisations Developed a Declaration at a recent FAO conference. Here’s how it unfolded. […]
‘seed regulation’ rejected by Parliament 650 votes to 15. […]
According to a new report, the EU seed market seriously lacks diversity, yet seed lobbyists claim that there are currently 7000 small and medium-sized seed companies in the EU. […]
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