Betsy Goodman's reflections from the ASSCO Meeting:

Food Security goes hand in hand with Seed Sovereignty. Thinking 7 generations from now, if I bring kids into this world, how can I ensure their kids have the luxury of going to the grocery? I feel it is my personal responsibility, as well as the responsibility of each community, to uphold a certain amount of local food sovereignty. In that, growing food and saving seed on an individual basis. Food security is the basis for national security. This is what our four fathers intended by providing free seed to establish communities, thus creating new diverse vegetable varieties and maintaining traditional cultivars. This is why seed libraries are important. 

In talking with David Svik, the Nebraska Seed Control Official, I understood seed integrity to be our common ground. As a farmer, I believe in the seed law, I am happy that it is in place because it insures that when I purchase seed, I will get quality seed. As a beginner in vegetable breeding, I know the value of the time and energy that goes into creating new varieties. Hybrids and patented varieties aught to be protected by the seed law ensuring that credit goes to the individual or institution that created the cultivar.  Open pollinated varieties that have always been in the public domain aught to remain forever open and available to the public, no exceptions. In my opinion, seed libraries aught on only distribute open-pollinated, non-patented, varieties. 

The problem with the current seed law as it stands in many states, lies in the definition of sale. As this law pertains to open pollinated varieties as well as patented, the law then excludes the traditional way of sharing seeds.  For the last 12,000 years people have dedicated lifetimes to saving seed and freely sharing it. This act has established healthy communities across this land. With the perpetuation of fragile food communities (also known as food deserts) and climate change, local seed sovereignty is imperative. 

Like ASSCO, Common Soil Seed Library feels that seed integrity is most important. We want to only distribute viable seed that is able to regenerate and grow well in Nebraska. We have a color code system along with an average seed life viability chart and do germination tests on questionable innovatory.  We do not distribute corn or soybeans as not to risk potential problems associated with cross contamination of patented varieties. Common Soil only distributes open pollinated varieties, that are known not to be a noxious weed, and has a very detailed seed return form so that we may practice discretion in our distribution.

In the future, I see a potential for a unique collaboration between the seed libraries, farmers, and USDA. We can continue to do the work that our four fathers intended, maintaining thriving, secure, communities, while collaborating to explore new diverse cultivars of vegetables that are regionally adapted to our changing climate. This shall remain to be an open source seed system not owned by anyone and upheld by many. 

The USDA officials and American Seed Trade Association were receptive and understand the cultural importance of seed libraries. There will need to be a regulatory group to enforce our protocols and make sure that we are not distributing hybrid or patented seed-this is their biggest concern. They expressed that they will not tolerate the sharing of this seed. There is also concern about mislabeling and lack of regulation in returns and distribution. Seed companies vocalized that they do not want whole seed packets distributed and want people to either take from packets or repackage. So, there is an absolute need for the International Seed Library Organization, other than advocacy, regulatory will be a main purpose. There has been a working group established with Seed Control Officials and American Seed Trade Association Director as well as a few others including myself and Neil Thapar. This working group will develop guidelines which will be somehow incorporated into RUSSL for 2016 legislative sessions.