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Seed films & documentaires

Knowledge is empowerment, films are powerful. They can offer us insights in lives far away from our day-to-day lives and enable us to see patterns all around the globe. Patterns of destruction and depression, as well as creation and hope. The following set of short films and documentaries will offer you knowledge on the state of our seeds today, the issues we face in the struggle for seed sovereignty, and inspiring stories of change.

The Seeds of Freedom
The trilogy tells the story of seeds, something that plays a primary role in traditional farmer communities all around the world. It shows us how seeds are being transformed into commodities and used in the monopoly of the current food system. The movies emphasise the impact the industrial agricultural system, especially GMO’s, have on the diversity of seeds around the world. A diversity that has been developed by farmers and communities worldwide since the nascence of agriculture. The film shows how the loss of indigenous seeds goes hand in hand with the loss of biodiversity and related knowledge. Hereby cultural traditions are lost, and food sovereignty is in danger. The trilogy consists of; Seeds of Freedom, Seeds of Sovereignty, and Seeds of Justice.
Available through; http://www.seedsoffreedom.info/about-the-trilogy/synopsis/

Seed Matters
A short film which stresses the importance of seeds for our climate, health, food and sustainability. The directors focussed on the problems that we face nowadays and propose solutions.
Available through; http://www.seedsoffreedom.info/more-films/seed-matters/

Whoever Controls Seeds, Controls the Food System
The right of small-scale farmers to exchange and save their seeds, as in Ghana, is under threat by international politics and regulations. Food sovereignty threatened by multinationals that limit the rights of small farmers, aim to control them, and often force them out of their business.
Available through; http://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/whoever-controls-seeds-controls-the-food-system/

Our Seeds
A documentary about traditional eating patterns in eleven countries; Spain, France, Italy, India, Sri Lanka, China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. It shows us what the problems are in our global food system which depends on hybrid seeds, synthetic fertilisers, and pesticides.
Available through; http://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/our-seeds-2008/

Fighting for Seeds and Soil
The British government, European Union and other rich nations have invested millions of euros into a model which forces farmers to adopt techniques involving chemicals. Agro corporations forward misleading information and facts. The movie shows us the story of Tanzania; a story of the strength of people. Millions of small-scale farmers all over the world are building an ecological agricultural model. This model proves that a good harvest does not depend on chemical inputs. A model that is better for the environment and gives the right back to farmers to grow food.
Available through; http://www.globaljustice.org.uk/blog/2016/may/31/fighting-seeds-and-soil-film

Seed; the untold story
Seeds are the source of all life. Like tiny time capsules they carry the songs memories, and medicines of entire cultures. They feed us, dress us, and provide us with resources for our daily life. In this modern world these miracles of nature are in great danger. In less than half a century of industrial agriculture the range of once so diverse seeds has decreased drastically to a handful of varieties for mass production. Nowadays, our seeds are in the hands of multinationals, companies like Syngenta, Bayer and Monsanto have control over more than two thirds of the global seed market. The GMO’s they produce dominate on the fields and dinner tables of people all around the world. Globally, people are becoming aware of the importance of seeds for our future. Protests, local initiatives, community gardens, seed banks, and a new generation of passionate farmers; there is movement to a more sustainable and independent seed paradigm.
Trailer available through: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7fjRZQJXmc
Film screening can be requested through; http://www.seedthemovie.com/

Seeds of Sovereignty
The documentary tells the story of how African farming communities and organisations are reviving traditional seed diversity and resist against the immense pressure to use industrial seeds and adopt modern farming techniques.
Available through; http://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/seeds-of-sovereignty-2013/

Seeds of Justice; in the hands of farmers
The film tells the story of a plant scientist from Ethiopia and his inspiring work to re-value the knowledge of farmers and protect their position as the keepers of our seeds.
Available through; http://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/seeds-of-justice-in-the-hands-of-farmers/

From Seed to Seed
From Seed to Seed is a pedagogical film intended for all those who wish to learn how to produce their own vegetable seeds. With the help of magnificent images and short animated drawings it shows, step by step, the production of seeds of 32 kinds of vegetables. In addition, eight theoretical or practical ‘ABCs’ explain the general bases of seed production. You will understand the cycle of each vegetable from seed to seed, the biology of their flowers and the phenomenon of pollination. You will be able to follow in detail the gestures and techniques used for harvesting, extracting, sorting and storing seeds.
Multiplying your own seeds is an infinite source of sharing, pleasure and satisfaction. It is also the first step towards food autonomy and a contribution towards the preservation of cultivated biodiversity.
4 DVDs in English, French and German versions, 436 minutes. On the website http://www.seedfilme.org/ you can find more information about the content and how to get a copy. In the Netherlands you can order the film at Omslag. The film is made by people from Longo maï, a European network of agricultural cooperatives.

Short Animations

The Right to Save Seeds
A short, funny animation about the importance of saving seeds and the problems created by intellectual property rights of multinationals like Monsanto.
Watch via; http://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/the-right-to-save-seed/

Why we must respect and support our organic farmers
A short film by Vandana Shiva about the importance of organic agriculture and how to support it.
Watch via; http://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/vandana-shiva-why-we-must-respect-and-support-our-organic-farmers-sea-to-seed/

Seed Act
A short film about how different people and organisations struggle for seed sovereignty and biodiversity, the production of more healthy seeds, in a world where seeds are increasingly controlled and regulated. Hereby an ancient human right is threatened; the right to sow, cultivate, harvest, eat and exchange natural seeds.
Watch via; http://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/seed-act/

The pictures below are from the documentary ‘From Seed to Seed’