Seed sharing is part of the culture and tradition communities across Kenya. It's key to sustaining local farming communities and livelihoods. However, this practice is now under threat from policies and laws that seek to control the seed sector across the world such as the Seed and Plant Varieties Act. The 2012 punitive seed law criminalise farmers for selling, sharing and exchanging seeds that are unregistered and uncertified. This legislation, punishes offenders with a prison sentence of up to a maximum of 2 years or a fine of up to KES 1,000,000 (around USD 7,350). The law needs to change to allow these practices, writes Hellen Kahaso Dena of Greenpeace International. AllAfrica

 

 

The weedy distant relations of the plants we grow for food, fuel and fibre have a crucial role to play in global food security. For example, drought resilience is one of agriculture's most sought-after traits, particularly in light of our warming climate. To meet this need, the Crop Trust's Wild Relatives Project is turning to the genetic bounty held in wild plants to create new varieties of alfalfa, finger millet, rice, potatoes and more — all able to withstand the effects of climate change. Their first success is Jabal wheat, a drought-tolerant durum wheat that was announced in 2022. Jabal wheat was created by cross-breeding commercial durum wheat (the kind used to make pasta, couscous and bulgur) with wild goatgrass, a distant relative. In contrast, GMO plants come with significant downsides. Non-GMO Project

 

 

The first Brighton Seed & Natural Fibre Festival will take place at the University of Sussex on 26 May, 2023. This one-day festival will celebrate seed diversity, organic food, natural fibres and sustainable lifestyle choices. The event will include expert talks covering agriculture and food systems – and exhibits of seed diversity by farmers and NGOs. There will be delicious organic and local food, as well as seeds, books, and natural fibre goods to buy and hands-on activities to promote sustainability in day-to-day life. The focus of the event will be the importance of safe agriculture and sustainable food systems. If you'd like to apply for a stall to sell your products, complete the form here. Brighton Seed & Natural Fibre Festival

 

We hope you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible by readers’ donations. Please support our work with a one-off or regular donation. Thank you!