MedINA is launching the implementation of its new project “KYTHERACE – Saving our seeds: Safeguarding agrobiodiversity on Kythera” -a name that merges KYTHERA and LANDRACE- with the aim of safeguarding local plant varieties and the traditional knowledge that accompanies them.
At the heart of every place lies its land, its crops, its flavors. Local varieties -the seeds cultivated for generations- are a part of the living heritage of a region and a fundamental component of a healthy, resilient, and sustainable agrifood future. However, today these valuable varieties are rapidly declining due to intensive agriculture and the abandonment of farmland.
Many of the traditional varieties that once thrived in Kythera have already been lost or are at risk of extinction: vegetables, fruits, legumes, and even old farming practices that are deeply linked to the island’s history and gastronomy.
Through KYTHERACE, and building on the experience of previous initiatives such as LEMRACE and Terra Kytheria, MedINA will work intensively on the island of Kythera to safeguard its agricultural genetic heritage. The project includes two field missions to identify both the local varieties that still survive today and the traditional or innovative methods of cultivating them. It also involves seed collection and the creation of the “Kytherian Seed Bank”, a small-scale community seed bank equipped with all the necessary tools. Through these actions, the project aims to strengthen collaboration and networking with local institutions, farmers, and associations, forming a vibrant network of guardians of Kythera’s plant varieties.
The protection of local varieties is not only about agriculture. It is a matter of identity, self-sufficiency, culture, and local development. Through collective effort, the traditions and agrifood future of Kythera can be safeguarded.
The project is being implemented in collaboration with the Kytherian Foundation for Culture and Development (KIPA) and with the support of the A.G. Leventis Foundation.