Another EU threat to seed biodiversity

[salome2001]

Just thought I'd paste my email text here for anyone to use if they wish

Dear Commisioner

I wish to ask you to vote NO to the proposal by DG SANCO on May 6, 2013 that seeks to ban the sale of old and rare varieties of plants and farmers varieties and stop the exchange and selling of traditional seeds.
By forcing registration of all varieties of all crop species, the new law will prohibit old, rare and traditional public-domain farm varieties. This will guarantee huge profits for the seed industry but will be a terrible loss to the people of Europe as our agricultural heritage is outlawed overnight!

In addition, this represents a threat to the biodiversity of our vegetable and food species, making the genetic pool of plants ever smaller and increasing the risk of devastating disease that could decimate our food production.

Please vote NO to the proposed restrictions on the sale of seeds and allow both agricultural farmers and back garden vegetable growers the freedom to grow and save seeds as they have always done.

Yours sincerely,

[salome2001]

signed the avaaz petition too

[Dusty Rhodes]

Just like Monsanto in the US...they are trying to control the seed you grow. This measure is aimed at forcing you to buy commercial seed from the big box ag corporations.

[rustylady]

We know Dusty, and unfortunately Monsanto isn't just in the US.

[VirginVegGrower]

I'd like to share an extract from a new book I am reading, which sums it up rather well.

Source: Window-box Allotment by Penelope Bennett

"If possible, buy organic seeds to stop the spread of non-germinating, terminator-gene seeds. These are sterile seeds unlike the fertile profits of some seed companies, which force us to buy more and more seeds instead of saving them. Terminator-gene seeds must be one of the most dire combinations of mammonism and immorality - something that one imagines could only take place in science fiction."

[SarzWix]

http://www.seed-sovereignty.org/PDF/...e_material.pdf

It's making me cross-eyed trying to read this so early in the morning, but, I think seed swappers will be okay if I've read this bit right:

'the Regulation continues not to apply to plant reproductive material intended for testing
and scientific purposes and intended for breeding purposes. In addition, it should not
apply to material intended to or maintained in gene banks, and networks of
conservation of genetic resources or organisations associated with gene banks as well
as material exchanged in kinds between two persons...'

(My emphasis)

[bearded bloke]

I'd like to share an extract from a new book I am reading, which sums it up rather well.

Source: Window-box Allotment by Penelope Bennett

"If possible, buy organic seeds to stop the spread of non-germinating, terminator-gene seeds. These are sterile seeds unlike the fertile profits of some seed companies, which force us to buy more and more seeds instead of saving them. Terminator-gene seeds must be one of the most dire combinations of mammonism and immorality - something that one imagines could only take place in science fiction."

As I read that ^^ basically she is saying not to buy F1 seeds

[zazen999]

As I read that ^^ basically she is saying not to buy F1 seeds

No - F1s are not always GMO with the terminator gene. Most organic seeds bought by agricultural growers are - strangely enough - F1s.

[VirginVegGrower]

As I read that ^^ basically she is saying not to buy F1 seeds

Buy what you like. I thought it an apt quote for seed savers.

[rustylady]

As I read that ^^ basically she is saying not to buy F1 seeds

F1 seeds don't carry a terminator gene, they are just a cross between two specific varieties and their seeds will germinate and grow but won't necessary produce a plant identical to what was sown in the first place.

A terminator gene means that plants either do not produce seed, or seed that is produced won't germinate.

[bearded bloke]

No - F1s are not always GMO with the terminator gene. Most organic seeds bought by agricultural growers are - strangely enough - F1s.

It's one of those .. how you read it things Zaz, I took the .... "These are sterile seeds unlike the fertile profits of some seed companies, which force us to buy more and more seeds instead of saving them." ... bit as we should buy seeds that produce fruit/veg seeds that can saved & grown from.
As I understand it produce grown from F1 seeds does not generally produce new seeds that if planted come true to the original,if you see what I mean.

[bearded bloke]

Buy what you like. I thought it an apt quote for seed savers.

Yes & no,saving F1 seeds seems to me to be a waste of time if they are not going to come true to form is all I was saying,

[Two_Sheds]

so we are going to have no choice but to buy our seed from the Big Companies? We can't even swap them?

Yes I did bladdy well send an email !

[bearded bloke]

Must be a "bloke thing" reading Sarz qoutebox above ........

the Regulation continues not to apply to plant reproductive material intended for testing
and scientific purposes and intended for breeding purposes. In addition, it should not
apply to material intended to or maintained in gene banks, and networks of
conservation of genetic resources or organisations associated with gene banks as well
as material exchanged in kinds between two persons...

I take that as seed swaps & seed banks are unaffected by the proposed regulation

[veggiechicken]

Must be a "bloke thing" reading Sarz qoutebox above ........



I take that as seed swaps & seed banks are unaffected by the proposed regulation

I read it that way too, BB, and I'm not a "bloke"