Seed sovereignty and agroecological scaling: two cases of seed recovery, conservation, and defense in Colombia. Issue 7 (14th September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: García López, Valeria; Giraldo, Omar Felipe; Morales, Helda; Rosset, Peter M.; Duarte, José María
• Is Part Of: Agroecology and sustainable food systems. Volume 43:Issue 7/8(2019)
• Page Start: 827
• Page End: 847
• Publication Date: 2019-09-14
• Subjects: Native and creole seeds -- seed custodians -- seed systems -- depth scaling -- agroecology; Sustainable agriculture -- Periodicals; Agricultural ecology -- Periodicals; 577.55
• DOI: 10.1080/21683565.2019.1578720
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2168-3565

Abstract

ABSTRACT: By evaluating two grassroots organizations that belong to the Red de Semillas Libres de Colombia (RSLC; Free Seed Network of Colombia), we show how the recovery, conservation, and defense of native and creole seeds have two types of effects on agroecological scaling. The first is a horizontal or scaling out effect, given that these activities involve the adoption of agroecological practices which allow for spreading knowledge, principles, and practices among seed custodians, their local communities and organizations, and the networks of these organizations. The second is a deepening effect, given that: 1) seed custodianship reaffirms and/or generates new peasant and indigenous identities and ways of life; 2) seed recovery, conservation, and defense conform a multi-dimensional process that is material, political, and symbolic, which provides cultural and territorial rootedness, and 3) strengthening of the social-organizational fabric through collective actions and strategies by seed custodians in their territories in defense of native and creole seeds. These processes propitiate fertile conditions for scaling peasant agroecology and contribute to the construction of seed sovereignty, which is an essential aspect of struggles to preserve and reproduce and native and creole seeds.