Description
Given that traditional seeds are threatened by loss due to unsustainable land use/ management, lack of proper legislation and use of GMO, the project Traditional seeds - key to protecting biodiversity helps small producers who wish to use traditional seeds in the agriculture. Objectives: 1) Saving and revitalization of traditional seeds, 2) Increase awareness of the genetic diversity of traditional varieties, 3) Networking in Eastern Europe to carry out advocacy activities, 4) Organizational Development. The target groups of the project are small producers/farmers, NGOs and public institutions. The project will result in 2 experimental gardens established, 1 cooperative network of small producers created, 1 NGO network created for traditional seeds conservation policy, 50 mobilized communities, 30.000 persons from the general public informed. The Norwegian partner’s role is to provide consultancy in developing network between small producers and experimental gardens, advocacy in network and establishment of solutions for cooperation among the NGOs and other institution related to seed regulation and legislation.
Summary of project results
Rural areas in Romania are exposed to radical transformations entailing the erosion of the natural and cultural resources which have been supporting these communities along the centuries. The holistic traditional households, that provided durable sustainability to the rural areas, are threatened with disappearance because of the restructuring or abandoning of agricultural lands and the incoherent Romanian and European legislation on traditional (peasant) varieties. The project “Traditional seeds – key to protecting biodiversity” set as its goal to save, multiply and distribute free traditional seeds in order to support peasants and farmers who want to produce healthy food without using hybrid or GMO seeds. At the beginning of the project, 52 community meetings were organised, during which members of the community were informed and became aware of current specific legislation and of the importance of saving traditional seeds. Together with experts in the domain, 88 traditional varieties were collected and multiplied in the two experimental gardens established in the framework of the project. At the end of august 2015, the gates of these gardens were opened, offering visitors the chance to obtain an insight in the functioning of such a garden as a centre for collecting, saving and preserving traditional varieties. In order to disseminate the knowledge about saving traditional seeds, 8 two-day workshops, attended by 311 individuals, were organised in the North-West and Central region. At the beginning of 2016, Civitas organised 6 “Free Seed Exchanging Fairs”, where approximately 200 families were given free seeds. They also set up a Presentation and Storage Centre for the traditional seeds. In order to help small scale farmers, households and those who want to get involved in saving traditional seeds, Civitas published a Guide to saving traditional vegetable varieties. They also published a Children’s guide to vegetable growing, which aims to ensure the project’s long-term sustainability and to enhance children’s awareness towards this topic. A documentary entitled “Seeders” was made, in order to point the activities carried out during the project and the current situation of peasant households. On international level, an informal cooperation network was created between the organisations that are dedicated to save traditional seeds and are actively advocating for it.
Summary of bilateral results
In partnership with the Norwegian NGO Norges Vel, two workshops were organised, both lead by the Norwegian Partner. The result of the first workshop was the development of a partnership between NGOs and institutions from Romania and neighbouring countries. The first four day workshop included the following elements: a) Exchange of good practices at national and transnational level and exploring how this knowledge could be adapted in Romania; b) Developing models and tools with the aim of supporting NGOs in Romania in their quest to adapt and implement best practices in traditional seed saving; c) Identification of common aspects among the participating organizations; d) Investigating the possibilities and interest for establishing a network which could conduct advocacy activities with the purpose of saving traditional seeds in this region; The second workshop was focused on establishing a Community Network of Sowers in Transylvania, with the aim of saving agro-biodiversity. During the two day workshop the following topics were approached: a) The importance of biodiversity (how to understand biodiversity, why is it important); b) The advantages of networking and cooperation; c) Personal engagement; d) Ways of seed collection and exchange. On the project level, a formal partnership with Norges Vel was concluded, leading to strengthening bilateral cooperation. Norges Vel contributed to the project results through know-how transfer in topics like networking on national and international level, advocacy activities for seed regulation and sharing best practice on cooperation at regional level for saving traditional seeds. This partnership contributed also to the visibility of the project in Norway.