Seed exchange is an ancient practice to protect genetic diversity in agriculture. In the last years, the industrialization process led to a constant decrease of agrobiodiversity.
As a result, a new type of seed exchange networks has formed around the world. These networks aim at changing social relations surrounding agriculture by preserving, re-creating, and re-learning knowledge about seeds, towards new sustainable food systems.
Within the DYNAVERSITY project, the Environmental Social Science Research Group (ESSRG) in Hungary focuses on innovative seed systems from both an economic and social perspective. ESSRG organizes networking events to promote genetic diversity as well as social innovation.
At the beginning of 2020, several seed-swaps were organized in collaboration with the Hungarian civil seed network Magház. These events involved gardeners, farmers and urban gardeners, to exchange seeds and share good practices.
Find out more about the seed-swaps supported by ESSRG (information in Hungarian):
- Pécsi Magbörze, Pécs, 22.02.2020
- Magbörze, növénycsere és Zöldkönyvtár, Budapest, 23.02.2020 (Read here the post on Magház website)
- Zuglói Magbörze, Budapest, 29.02.2020
- Szegedi Magbörze, Szeged, 07.03.2020
All the events in late March and April were cancelled due to the Covid-19.