Seedy Saturdays are taking place across Canada again this spring with dates in March and April dedicated to events where vegetable gardeners can access and share heritage and rare seed.
In 2019, prior to the pandemic, there were more than 170 Seedy Saturdays across the country, organized in vacant parking lots, near open-air markets, or in church basements. Seedy Saturdays are organized by volunteers working with community, non-profit, and ecological organizations interested in maintaining diversity, safeguarding rare seeds, and encouraging the sharing of information.
Seeds of Diversity is a membership-based organization that was founded several years ago by gardeners and small-scale producers who understand the necessity of seed saving and sharing as key to food security and food sovereignty. The organization’s mission is “People Protecting the People’s Seeds” and it is dedicated to studying, preserving, and perpetuating rare and endangered seeds, as well as non-GM (genetically modified) and organic seeds. Seeds of Diversity maintains a Canadian Seed Library with more than 2,900 rare varieties safeguarded by the efforts of volunteers. It is a small but mighty organization with lofty and important goals.
This year, after three years of pandemic, Seedy Saturdays and Sundays are now back across the country as either in-person or hybrid events. The list of events is impressive and stretches across the country from Campbell River, B.C. through to Vermilion, Alta., Toronto, ON, Ottawa, ON, and on to New Glasgow, NS. The list is growing through March and April.
Added to Seeds of Diversity activities are also seed catalogues where seeds can be accessed, and also a new way of sharing — Seed Libraries. Seed Libraries are boxes or locations where seed can be shared with neighbours for free. These have sprung up over the last year in some regions of the country and seem to be catching on. Much like community book exchanges, these seed libraries are seed exchanges which operate on the principle of “take one, leave one.”
Seeds of Diversity also has youth projects to encourage the next generation of growers and seed savers. And it encourages all who are interested to continue learning through the release of books and various publications.
Organizations such as Seeds of Diversity were created because of the need to preserve and ensure access to heritage and rare seed, primarily vegetables. Prescient individuals organized, recognizing that the loss of seed diversity, or control over seed varieties, is a growing issue. Gene editing is yet another fundamental issue.
When it comes to family farmers and commercial crops, there have also been organizations created over the generations to try and ensure that farmers have access to quality seed and grading systems for commercial crops. Family farmers have long known the importance of having access to independently tested seeds, as well as information about the best growing conditions and plant characteristics of each variety. Canadian family farmers have access to pedigreed seed, common seed that is not covered by Plant Breeders’ Rights, as well as to seed saved on their own farms for future use. But the tug of war continues over who owns commercial seed varieties, with corporations seeking patents on seed, pushing for certification of gene-edited varieties, and lobbying for regulations that limit access to varieties in the public domain.
The Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) is calling on its allies to campaign to push the federal government to strengthen regulations related to genetically engineered seeds. CBAN is calling on regulations to govern all genetically-edited seeds and foods and pushing for mandatory environmental risk assessments and identification of GM seed within the federal seed regulations. Organic farmers need to be able to identify and avoid GM seeds in order to be able to farm organically. So along with organic farmers, CBAN is calling on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to create a registry of all GM seeds so that farmers have the information required to make an informed choice.
CBAN is also the organization that has been working to inform the public of any genetically modified organisms that are entering the Canadian food system — whether that be GM apples from Washington, or GM salmon. CBAN recently announced the closing of a GM salmon producing facility in PEI after strong opposition from groups concerned about introducing GM salmon into Canada.
Family farmers have faced many challenges over the years related to plant breeding and royalty rights exercised by corporations.
Currently theCFIA is responsible for the Seed Regulatory Modernization Working Group (SRMWG), a multi-stakeholder group reviewing Canada’s seed regulatory system. The CFIA is planning to submit proposed regulatory changes in the fall of 2023 for public review. This backgrounder from the National Farmers Union (NFU) provides insight into the current review process. As well, the NFU has drafted a Seed Act for Farmers which outlines the issues surrounding farmers’ rights to seed and the importance of a viable public plant breeding sector “guided by farmers’ and the public interest”. The SRMWG’s review of regulations could well affect seed grading and seed certification, as noted in these backgrounders. The seed regulatory system has been in place for 100 years, and farmer-led organizations such as the NFU state that it has served family farmers and the public well over the decades.
On a small scale, Seedy Saturdays and Sundays work to protect non-commercial vegetable varieties for future generations of gardeners. Meanwhile, on a larger scale, family farmers are engaged in trying to preserve access to publicly regulated commercial seed varieties which are independently tested federally on behalf of family farmers. And coalitions such as CBAN are monitoring the introduction of genetically modified or edited seeds and organisms anywhere in Canada. These groups are working to provide constant vigilance over our food systems.
Spring is a good time to remind ourselves that across Canada farmers and gardeners are anticipating spring. As they select the seeds to plant, many are also advocating on food issues that directly affect the general public.
Spring is a good time to remember that all begins with the right to seeds.
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