After sadly having to cancel the Reclaim the Seeds 2020 because of the Corona outbreak, we are very happy to announce that this year will happen with an amazing online program!!
Reclaim the Seeds is an event where the exchange of seeds and information is combined with discussion about political themes and practical workshops. The aim is to get more people involved in the fight for agricultural biodiversity and robust, sustainable food production. The project contributes directly to this by stimulating the exchange of rare and distinct varieties. The program also covers other practical, theoretical and political agriculture-related topics.
This year most of the program will happen online but The Fruittuin van West will function as a location to bring and collect exchanged items after the Reclaim-the-Seeds weekend. A special seed exchange cabinet will be built for this. But participants can of course also send their exchanged seeds to each other by post. Even during a pandemic, the preservation and exchange of vegetable seeds remains important.
Reclaim the Seeds was originated as a protest against new EU regulations for seeds and seed potatoes. Partly because of broad European resistance, the proposals were voted down by the European Parliament. Another reason was the rapid takeover of various seed companies by a small number of large multinationals. It is mainly chemical companies that now also dominate the seed market. Opposition to patents on crops and climate-neutral “fossil-free” agriculture is also currently a spearhead of Reclaim the Seeds. More background information on these subjects and reports from recent years can be found at www.reclaimtheseeds.nl .
Reclaim the Seeds is organized by ASEED, the Fruittuin van West and the urban agriculture organization Cityplot , but the organization is only possible thanks to the many other volunteers and active participants.
The ASEED team will be having an open discussion about ‘Seed Packages’ and the Indian farmers’ protests discussing growing resistance against corporate control of agriculture. Also, some of the ASEED members will be holding an online tour talking about the “Community Supported Agriculture” farming model showing the Pluk! CSA crops.
As you can see, we are not sitting still and even online everything is possible!!!
Check the link to see the programm, to find the online registration and all the information related to the Reclaim the Seeds history: https://reclaimtheseeds-amsterdam.nl/en/home-en/
Time: Saturday 20th, Sunday 21st. Both days from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Costs: participation is free, a donation is appreciated .
