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Re: seed diversity

Dear Patricia, 
I don't have your e-mail address so I'm sending this via sanet (appologies to
all those for whom it's not relevant). 
You might try Simon Linington or John Dickie at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.
Kew have funding from the Millenium Commission in the UK to produce a Millenium
Seed Bank Project. The aims of this project are to:

Collect and conserve samples of most of the UK's native seed-bearing species by
the year 2000.

Collect and conserve seed samples from 10% of the world's seed bearing species
during the years 2000-2009, concentrating on dryland regions and involving
collaboration of organisations in many countries.

Make the collections available for research.

Carry out seed research to maximise efficiency of the above conservation
effort; develop a database of seed information and disseminate information.

Provide training and research opportunities, particularly for the overseas
collaborating organisations.

Provide a building, by the year 2000, as a focus for the above activities to
house the seed bank, research and training facilities and general public
access.

Anyone interested should contact the Seed conservation section, Royal Botanic
Gardens, Kew, Wakehurst Place, Ardingly, West Sussex RH17 6TN, UK - Tel: (+44)
(0)1444 894000, Fax: (+44) (0)1444 894069, E-Mail: s.linington@rbgkew.org.uk

I hope this helps. Kew would probably not be able to help directly with funding
but they have many other contacts around the world.

Geoff
- ------------------------------------------------

Geoff Seavers
IACR-Long Ashton Research Station
Department of Agricultural Sciences
University of Bristol
Long Ashton
Bristol
BS18 9AF

Email Address : geoff.seavers@bbsrc.ac.uk
Telephone : (+44) (0)1275 392181
          Fax : (+44) (0)1275 394007      

> 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.
> 
>