Sustainable Seed Innovation Round-table

The Art of Living International Center, Bangalore
15th of Sep 2017

Historically farmers selected the best seeds, saved them from one season to another and exchanged seeds with other farmers. Periodically new varieties developed through this system of cultivation, seed selection, and exchange. India’s incredible agrobiodiversity is not just due to environmental conditions, but also the innovation of farmers over thousands of years.

Traditional agriculture in the fullest sense involves sustainable seed innovation.

Sustainable seed innovation requires:

  • Conservation of traditional varieties
  • Farmer innovation of new varieties through seed selection

With an objective to understand the challenges to achieving sustainable seed innovation and to determine what can be done to help farmers innovate, a sustainable seed Innovation Round Table has been organized at the Art of Living International Center, Bengaluru on September 15, 2017.

The Sustainable Seed Innovation Round-table has two parts.

Part 1: Presentations – The Current State of Seed Innovation

The preliminary results of our research will be presented to those in attendance, including farmers interviewed for the research project. The farmers will be given an opportunity to provide feedback and discuss views on the preliminary results. In addition, invited speakers will present on the current challenges and successes of seed innovation in India from legal, practical and cultural perspectives.

Part 2: Round-table Discussion – Encouraging Sustainable Seed Innovation

A moderated round-table discussion will include researchers, educators, government, plant-breeders, and non-governmental organizations. The round-table will make recommendations and decide on future actions to encourage sustainable seed innovation.

The Sustainable Seed Innovation Round-table concludes a collaborative research project between the Center for Sustainable Development – Art of Living Foundation, Department of Sustainable Development, University of Leeds, and Dr. Nalini Kochupillai from the Max-Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition.

More information here.