[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]
seed diversity
Dear saneters:
I while back I received the message below. In Venezuela a fellow NGO is
trying to set up a germplasm bank of seeds of traditional crops for
sustainable agriculture and biodiversity conservation. Does any one have
any idea of organizations that would help fund this kind of initiative?
Any leads would be of great help.
Please respond directly to me .
Thanks so much for your help
Patricia
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Bryan K. Baker 206/616-1634
>Community and the Environment University of Washington
>Northwest Policy Center Box 353060
>http://weber.u.washington.edu/~npcweb/Envi.html Seattle, WA 98195
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>In Europe now all seeds to be sold have to have an owner - ie old
>>"traditional" seeds cannot be sold, someone has to have the "rights" to this
>>particular seed first!!! Totally mad according to me. Also all batches of
>>seed to be sold have to be tested for germination by a state authority, very
>>expensive, so small firms specializing in not-so-common seeds are no longer
>>economically viable.
>>Fortunately there are small (revolutionary, anarchistic?) organisations
>>where the members are allocated certain species and grow them so the seed
>>will not die out. As soon as I get the time I will take on one or two
>>species, maybe in 10 years time....
>Please don't wait to start saving seed, the time is now, 10 years will be
>too late, many strains extinct. The US just forced that same kind of
>agreement on India regarding patented seeds, etc. through world trade
>agreements.
Save open pollinated seeds for you and your community.