Defend Seed Sovereignty with Megan Westgate of Non-GMO Project and Loren Cardeli of A Growing Culture
This conversation explores the critical issues surrounding seed sovereignty, the threats posed by UPOV, and the collaborative efforts to promote food integrity and indigenous seed saving through the 'Free the Seed' campaign. Megan Westgate of Non-GMO Project and Lauren Cardeli of A Growing Culture talk about how they came to work together on this issue and share insights on the importance of biodiversity, community-led seed libraries, and the power of storytelling in transforming the food system. They then share how you can get involved in the campaign and join their learning journey.
Key Topics
UPOV treaty and its impact on indigenous seed saving
Farmers being put in jail for saving their own seeds
The importance of biodiversity and seed diversity
How Non GMO Project and A Growing Culture came together to build this campaign
The difference between seed vaults/morgues and community-led living seed libraries
4 sessions of the Free The Seed learning journey
The role of storytelling and narrative in food activism
Strategies for engaging brands and communities in seed sovereignty
Sound Bites
“Humans have the ability to imagine the end of the world easier than the end of capitalism.”
“[Those kinds of seed libraries are] what I call a seed morgue, because that's where seed goes to die.”
“Living seed libraries exist through community mechanisms and community ownership where those seeds are being saved and adapting and growing and living throughout.”
"It's illegal to save seed in many countries."
"Seed saving is essential for human survival.”
“Life is regenerative inherently.”
“Think about what does ‘right relationship’ look like for me and for my business.”
“Food should nourish life.”
“Our national identities are stories, our faiths are stories, our belief systems are stories. That is the power of narrative.”
"We shouldn't be scared of them, they should be scared of us. Because the reality is that every dam will be broken by a heavy rain."
