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In This Podcast: In this monthly Seed Chat, Greg Peterson and Bill McDorman explore the global rules governing seed ownership, seed saving, biodiversity, and agricultural policy. The conversation dives into international treaties, plant patenting, farmers’ rights, and the growing tension between the Global North and Global South over control of genetic resources. Bill shares firsthand experiences attending United Nations treaty negotiations and working with Indigenous seed sovereignty issues through Native Seeds/SEARCH. The episode also highlights why everyday gardeners and farmers should become “seed citizens” by saving and sharing locally adapted seeds.

Bill McDorman is a renowned seed saver, educator, and advocate for agricultural biodiversity. He co-founded the Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance and has spent decades teaching gardeners and farmers how to grow, save, and share heirloom seeds. Through workshops, speaking, and mentorship, Bill inspires communities to strengthen local food systems, preserve regional seed diversity, and protect seed sovereignty for future generations.

Key Topics

Seed libraries and locally adapted seed sharing
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA)
UPOV and global plant variety protection laws
World Trade Organization (WTO) seed policy influence
Farmers’ rights and seed sovereignty
Plant patenting and intellectual property in agriculture
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Nagoya Protocol and access-benefit sharing
Digital Sequence Information (DSI) and genetic ownership
Native Seeds/SEARCH and Indigenous seed stewardship
Organic Seed Alliance and seed policy debates
Global North vs. Global South agricultural power dynamics
Seed banks and the Multilateral System (MLS)
The importance of saving open-pollinated seeds
The future resilience of local food systems

Key Questions Answered

What is the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture?

The ITPGRFA is a legally binding international treaty created to govern the conservation, sharing, and equitable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. It officially entered into force in 2004 and now includes participation from more than 180 countries.

Why do global seed treaties matter to everyday gardeners and farmers?

These treaties influence who can save seeds, who profits from plant genetics, and how agricultural biodiversity is preserved. The policies affect food security, seed availability, farmer independence, and long-term resilience of local food systems.

What is UPOV and why is it controversial?

UPOV is an international agreement that grants intellectual property protections to plant breeders. Critics argue that newer versions of UPOV weaken farmers’ traditional rights to save and replant seeds while strengthening corporate control over agriculture.

How does the WTO influence seed laws around the world?

According to Bill McDorman, countries seeking participation in global trade systems often adopt UPOV-style protections as part of WTO-related trade expectations, creating pressure on smaller nations to align with industrial seed systems.

What is the Nagoya Protocol?

The Nagoya Protocol is an international agreement designed to ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources. It attempts to address historical exploitation of Indigenous and Global South biodiversity by pharmaceutical and agricultural corporations.

What is Digital Sequence Information (DSI)?

DSI refers to genetic sequencing data derived from crops and plant varieties. A major debate centers around who owns this information and whether communities that stewarded these crops for generations should share in the economic benefits created from their genetic data.

What are farmers’ rights in global seed policy?

Farmers’ rights include the ability to save, use, exchange, and sell farm-saved seed. These rights remain one of the most contested issues in international agricultural negotiations.

Why are seed libraries important?

Seed libraries help preserve locally adapted seed varieties while strengthening regional food resilience. They also create community networks for knowledge sharing and decentralized seed stewardship.

How did Native Seeds/SEARCH navigate Indigenous seed stewardship?

Bill shares stories from his time directing Native Seeds/SEARCH, including working with Zuni and Hopi communities to renegotiate relationships around seed stewardship, naming rights, and seed distribution.

Why does Bill McDorman encourage people to attend UN treaty meetings?

He believes participation in international seed policy discussions is critical for protecting biodiversity and farmers’ rights. Attending these events allows citizens, gardeners, and small farmers to directly engage with global agricultural policy.

Episode Highlights

Bill discovers a seed library inside a small-town New Mexico library and reflects on the importance of locally adapted seeds.
Greg and Bill explain how seed laws emerged alongside industrial agriculture and large-scale seed commerce.
Bill breaks down UPOV, WTO policy, and how plant patenting transformed global agriculture.
The conversation explores how Indigenous plant genetics were historically extracted and commercialized.
Bill recounts receiving a cease-and-desist letter regarding Zuni bean varieties while directing Native Seeds/SEARCH.
A deep discussion unfolds around Digital Sequence Information and the ownership of plant DNA data.
Bill explains why small farmers across Africa increasingly believe they no longer have the right to save seeds.
The episode concludes with a call for more “seed citizens” actively saving and sharing seeds locally.

Resources

Resource — Seed Chat Live Events — SeedChat.org

Podcast — Urban Farm Podcast

Organization — UPOV – International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants

Organization — World Trade Organization (WTO)

Organization — Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA)

Treaty — International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA)

Organization — Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

Resource — Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing

Community — Organic Seed Alliance

Organization — Native Seeds/SEARCH

Event — Great American Seed Up — First weekend in November in Phoenix, Arizona

Visit UrbanFarm.org/987 for the show notes and links on this episode!

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