The European Community Exchange on Seed Diversity and Sovereignty was organised by the Global Diversity Foundation as part of the Global Environments Network (GEN) in Barcelona from 23rd to 27th September. This workshop brought together researchers, seed saving associations, environmental organisations and other participants active on the issue of seed diversity from across Europe. Lily Mordechai from MedINA attended as an opportunity to learn and exchange knowledge with this diverse group of seed specialists.
The workshop was participatory in nature and contained a rich programme that combined keynote speeches, workshops and field visits. The main topics addressed were Community Seed Banks –co-organised by the DIVERSIFOOD consortium and GDF-, the issue of seeds as commons and GE free seeds as well as participatory breeding and multiplication.
The wide participation and the interesting and controversial topics discussed made for a successful event. The conclusions and next steps will be captured in the Pathways to seed diversity and access which will better elaborate the common points for future collaboration between the participants.
