For some free seeds, for a diverse future

tastaldaci.com

The future European regulations on seeds, known as the Plant Reproductive Material Regulation (PRM), is causing concern among farmers and conservation organizations. Although the legislation aims to modernize the sector and guarantee the quality of the seeds, it can also limit traditional practices such as free exchange between farmers. Several groups warn that restricting these exchanges may cause a significant loss of cultivated biodiversity in Europe. Local and traditional seeds, often outside the commercial circuits, they are key to adaptation to climate change and the resilience of agricultural systems. If finally the regulation prioritizes commercial and bureaucratic criteria, many small initiatives and seed networks could disappear. This would imply a more homogeneous and dependent agriculture, and a loss of agricultural and cultural heritage that could hardly be recovered in the future. XAVIER BENAVENT