The Reclaim the Seeds Weekend of 2014 will be taking place on Saturday the 8th and Sunday the 9th of March 2014 in Groningen, in the north-east of the Netherlands. This is the third edition, following previous events in Amsterdam and Den Bosch. The seed fair offers a wide range of interested parties the opportunity to exchange seeds and knowledge about seeds, sustainable agriculture and the current threats to seed diversity.
One of our goals this time around is to create more exchange between the Netherlands and the north of Germany and other European regions. In several countries interesting initiatives to preserve the heritage of regional and other crops have developed. The current climate in Europe around seed laws leads to an almost imperative need to keep strong connections across borders and to continue to exchange seeds. And naturally we hope the event will encourage gardeners from this area to store and share their seeds in the future. The previous events attracted hundreds of people to the seed fair, workshops and discussions.
The main part of the debates and workshops will be held in Dutch, but there may also be parts of the programme in English. We will try to arrange translation so that everyone can participate in the program as much as possible.
We hope that you will join us this March, whether as stall-holders or just as visitors. We would really appreciate it if you could help us spread this announcement, by sending it on to your networks.
Programme
Saturday the 8th March: seed fair, film and debate
During Saturday the 8th of March there will be a market at which Individuals, organisations and businesses from the Netherlands and abroad can swap, give, buy and sell seeds. Simultaneously there will be a workshop programme. There will be practical workshops focusing on the self-cultivation of seeds as well as workshops that focus on international developments in the field of seeds and biodiversity. There will for example be workshops focusing on new EU seed legislations and the effects of Monsanto on agriculture internationally. In the evening you can attend a debate between experts, focusing on seed policies and their consequences for the Netherlands.
Sunday the 9th March: getting to know local projects
On Sunday the 9th or March we will be getting our hands dirty with practical projects. Among other things there will be a bike tour through Groningen to visit local initiatives such as neighbourhood gardens and allotments. Where possible, riders can roll up their sleeves and help out with preparing the gardens for the new season.
Why Reclaim the Seeds?
The production and distribution of healthy, resilient agricultural seeds is under pressure. Regulations make it increasingly difficult for small business owners and individuals to grow seeds for sale or exchange. At this time, the EU seed market legislation is under revision. At the same time, the production and sale of seeds is increasingly controlled by large international companies such as Monsanto. These developments mean that choices about food and agriculture are confined to a small number of companies and organizations. The big seed companies offer only a small number of varieties, varieties that are suitable for large-scale, mechanized agriculture and the food processing industry. And this at the expense of the resilience and diversity of agriculture and our food supply. Smaller producers and individuals are losing more and more control over their food.
In reaction, increasing numbers of small-scale food projects are appearing in neighbourhoods and villages, and seed producers who work with organic, non-genetically engineered seeds and old varieties are busy creating new networks.
Reclaim the Seeds wants to offer an alternative to the negative developments by creating positive initiatives and organizing this weekend. The project is organized every year by ASEED and a changing group of local organizations and volunteers. In 2014 the Godin Eetbaar Landschap, Hortus Haren and the Oude RKZ are involved in the organization.