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Seed libraries are one strategy to avoid the compression of seed  biodiversity we have seen under the practices of commercial seed houses. Seed Library Social Network calls for discourse BIOPIRACY AND GMO BIOSAFETY MUST BE ADDRESSED Devon G. Peña | Las Colonias de San Pablo, CO | August 31, 2014 On August 5, I reported on the closing down of a seed library in Pennsylvania by the state’s Department of Agriculture.  A week later, August 13 , I posted an analysis and position paper on U.S. seed laws prepared by Sustainable Economies Law Center ( SELC ). Continuing with this series on Seed Sovereignty in the U.S., I am posting this call for a discussion of a National Seed Library Protocol prepared by Leslie Goldman affiliated with the Seed Library Social Network (SLSN). The call was posted on August 27 on the SLSN homepage . I have re-posted Leslie Goldman’s announcement and call for discussion below (unedited). Goldman also reports on initial email correspondence with state offi...

Navdanya logo represents unity of seed saving and plant breeding Sustaining agrobiodiversity CONSERVATION WORKS BEST AS LIVED EXPERIENCE Devon G. Peña | Seattle, WA |March 31, 2014 The struggle over the control of seed stocks did not start with the advent of modern agriculture at mid-20 th C. The Romans built granaries from rough-hewn granite and guarded their wheat, rye, barley, and seed stores for a reason ( Rickman 1971 ). The Colhua Mexica raided the seed dispensaries of Azcapotzalco after burning the codices in the libraries of the tyrant Maxtla when they first achieved independence from their Tecpanec oppressors in a revolt led by Tlacaélel ( León-Portillo 1963 [1990] ). Today, a handful of global biotechnology corporations and their philantrocapitalist allies are seeking an oligopolistic level of global control over seed stocks. This is once again pushing the frontiers of the struggle over seed into an extraordinary period of conflict that will redefine the nature of our collec...