Domestication, relationships & seed security
Bioregional seed systems comprised of open-pollinated seeds, well-selected for disease and pest resistance, with the genetic diversity to adapt to climatic stress, are the basis for seed and food security.
Two generations sharing in the harvest.
(Adapted from Don Tipping's original blog posting at biodynamicseeds.blogspot.com)
Careful attention to plant selection for seed saving can contribute to the improvement of important traits such as disease resistance, pest tolerance, climate adaptation, flavor and nutrition. Domestication is not an endpoint. Rather it is a relationship that is ongoing and can go in different directions.
There is tremendous opportunity for the renaissance of the bioregional seedsman/woman to select and breed varieties for organic agriculture. I am committed to the notion that well-selected, open-pollinated seeds can outperform commercially available hybrids.
Through focusing on this crucial work, we can cooperate with gardeners and farmers to address the agronomic challenges that we will all face as climate change shifts microclimates in North America. Enhancing genetic diversity through population breeding and selection work focused on horizontal resistance will lessen the hardships growers experience with plant diseases, pests and climatic stress.
We are much more concerned with breeding plants that will foster healthy food for people, rather than traits such as ship-ability and shelf life. When we consider the concept of “food security” I find it logical that “seed security” should receive equal attention especially considering the threats of genetic engineering and the corporate consolidation of the seed industry.
Bioregional seed banks and distribution networks will emerge as one of the more important stores of wealth in the future. Anyone want to buy futures in seeds? Let’s get planting!
