Seed sovereignty, heirloom variety preservation, and traditional breeding systems.
Is genetically modified (GM) rice actually safe? Why can it not be easily brought to market? On 18 April, a Philippine court ruled that the commercial promotion of Golden Rice was unconstitutional, highlighting once again the cautious attitude of various sectors of society towards GM staple crops. The court also…
In Xinyang, Henan, Zhang Chao’s naturally farmed Deyi Tea Garden endures spring drought, late frost and heat, while old drought-resistant tea shows more resilience than the government-promoted early-sprouting variety Xinyang No. 10.
A Note from Foodthink 11 November 2021, during the Fengnian Festival in Guangzhou, Foodthink interviewed two musicians from the band Wayna, Banong and Shibashi. This conversation became the first episode of the “Food Talk” podcast. Beyond this, during the early stages of “Food Talk”, Banong generously composed the intro and…
Highlights from the 10th annual Farmer’s Seed Network meeting at China Agricultural University in Suzhou, where farmers, researchers and local agriculture officials discussed community seed banks, heirloom varieties, organic seed certification, climate adaptation and seed exchange.
Foodthink’s Perspective As the commercial seed industry continues to grow, heirloom seeds and ancestral varieties are becoming increasingly marginalised. Their disappearance is not only a loss of biodiversity but also signals the gradual decay of diverse local culinary traditions and cultures. However, a growing number of seed savers are now…
