Community seed banks first appeared towards the end of the 1980s, established with the support of international and national non-governmental organizations. This book is the first to provide a global review of their development and includes a wide range of case studies.
Countries that pioneered various types of community seed banks include Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Nepal, Nicaragua, the Philippines and Zimbabwe. In the North, a particular type of community seed bank emerged known as a seed-savers network. Such networks were first established in Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA before spreading to other countries. Over time, the number and diversity of seed banks has grown. In Nepal, for example, there are now more than 100 self-described community seed banks whose functions range from pure conservation to commercial seed production. In Brazil, community seed banks operate in various regions of the country.
Surprisingly, despite 25 years of history and the rapid growth in number, organizational diversity and geographical coverage of community seed banks, recognition of their roles and contributions has remained scanty. The book reviews their history, evolution, experiences, successes and failures (and reasons why), challenges and prospects. It fills a significant gap in the literature on agricultural biodiversity and conservation, and their contribution to food sovereignty and security.
Download by chapter:
1. The rich but little known chronicles of community seed banks
7. Policy and legal environment
9. Bangladesh - The Mamudpur Nayakrishi Seed Hut
10. Bhutan - The Bumthang community seed bank
11. Bolivia - Community seed banks in the Lake Titicaca area
12. Brazil - Gene banks, seed banks and local seed guardians
13. Brazil - The Minas Gerais seed houses for conservation in times of climate crisis
14. Canada - The Toronto Seed Library
15. China - The Xiding gene bank in Yunnan
16. Costa Rica - Unión de Semilleros del Sur
17. Guatemala - Community seed reserves restore maize diversity
18. India - Community seed banks and empowering tribal communities in the Kolli Hills
19. India - From community seed banks to community seed enterprises
20. Malaysia - Exploring the utility of a community seed bank in Sarawak
21. Mali - An overview of community seed and gene banks
22. Mali - The USC Canada-supported gene and seed banks of the Mopti region
23. Mexico - Community seed banks in Oaxaca
24. Nepal - The historical Dalchowki community seed bank
25. Nepal - The community seed bank in Tamaphok
26. Nicaragua - La Labranza no. 2 community seed bank – ‘We are a network’
27. Rwanda - The Rubaya community gene bank
28. Sri Lanka - The Haritha Udana community seed bank in Kanthale
29. Trinidad and Tobago - SJ Seed Savers
30. Uganda - The Kiziba community gene bank
31. United States of America - Native Seeds/SEARCH
32. Burundi - Community seed banks and the Welthungerhilfe programme in Kirundo
33. Honduras - Community seed banks established by local agricultural research committees
34. Nepal - LI-BIRD’s approach to supporting community seed banks
35. Norway’s Development Fund - Supporting community seed banking practices
36. Spain - The seed network, Resembrando e Intercambiando
37. USC Canada’s experience in supporting community seed banks in Africa, Asia and the Americas
38. Zimbabwe - The experience of the Community Technology Development Trust
39. Brazil - Community seed banks and Brazilian laws
40. The role of community seed banks in adaptation to climate change in Mesoamerica
41. Nepal - Government policies and laws related to community seed banks
42. Community seed banks in Mexico - An in-situ conservation strategy