About the Seed Sovereignty Programme
The Seed Sovereignty Programme of the UK & Ireland aims to support the development of a biodiverse and ecologically sustainable seed system here on home soil. Working closely with farmers, seed producers and partners across the seed sector, together we want more agro-ecological seed produced by trained growers, to conserve threatened varieties and to breed more varieties for future resilience.
The programme is being led by The Gaia Foundation who have been working on seed and knowledge for over three decades both in the UK and overseas.
Objectives
- To support and cultivate regional and national connections and collaboration to provide coherence across the food and seed sector.
- To support farmers and growers with further skills, resources and information.
- To foster a more supportive environment for a biodiverse and ecologically sustainable seed system to thrive.
Activities
- Strengthen networks and support hubs of seed producers across the UK & Ireland
- Train farmers & growers in seed production, processing and storage
- Lobby with partners for changes to legislation that encourage small-scale seed producers
- Establish a database providing useful information on varieties, by growers for growers
- Variety trials designed to assess varieties suitable for agro-ecological cultivation and their ability to produce seed in various landscapes and climates across the UK and Ireland
- Participatory Plant Breeding (PPB) with researchers and breeders
- Raise awareness amongst new farmers and growers and the general public on the issues of seeds, their provenance and their production
