Farmers and Experts Meet to Talk Seeds — What Did We Chat About?

On 8–9 April 2023, the 10th annual conference of the Farmer Seed Network was successfully held at the Organic Recycling Research Institute of China Agricultural University (Suzhou). Foodthink attended in person as co-organiser and was deeply involved in planning and moderating the conference agenda.

Also invited to attend were four community partners funded by the third round of the “Lianhe Programme”, jointly supported by Foodthink and the Farmer Seed Network: the Henan Ruzhou Ecological Agriculture Development Association, the Guangxi Rongyan Ecological Planting and Breeding Cooperative, the Wuhan Xiaonongfu Ecological Farm, and the Guizhou Manyou Ecological Family Farm. In 2022, these four and eight other Lianhe Partners gradually established community seed banks in their respective localities to better practise in-situ living conservation of seeds.

The rich discussions over the two days only strengthened our conviction: farmer varieties and local varieties are cultivated by farmers through long-standing traditional knowledge, farming experience and cultural practices; they are common public resources shared by farmers and communities. Their conservation should not rest solely on the shoulders of the most vulnerable farming communities but should receive the support of society and government. Farmers’ right to preserve and breed varieties should not be stripped away, nor should the value they create in safeguarding heritage varieties be eroded by capital. Let us take a look at the highlights of this year’s conference.

Group photo from the 10th annual conference of the Farmer Seed Network

DAY 1

Li Ji, Director of the Organic Recycling Research Institute of China Agricultural University (Suzhou), delivered the opening address at this year’s conference, giving a brief overview of the institute’s work, and called on everyone to pay attention to soil health and high-quality seeds and food.

Li Ji, Director of the Organic Recycling Research Institute of China Agricultural University (Suzhou), delivering his opening address

Song Xin from the Farmer Seed Network presented a review and showcase of the network’s work in 2022. The Farmer Seed Network’s ecological breeding trials and legume-specific trials, themed “Small Beans, Big Health”, accumulated rich experience for the sustainable use of local varieties. Two seed training sessions held in Kunshan and Nanning brought everyone together. In addition, the Farmer Seed Network attended COP27 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the second-stage meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15), presenting Chinese cases alongside domestic social organisations, media outlets, and businesses.

Song Xin reviewing the Farmer Seed Network’s key work in 2022

Wang Qian from the Sustainable Global Environment Institute gave us a detailed interpretation of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the progress of non-state actors in supporting biodiversity conservation. Built around the “theory of change”, the Global Biodiversity Framework is action- and outcome-oriented, setting mid- and long-term targets for 2030 and 2050. Several of these targets are closely linked to the work of the Farmer Seed Network, including the conservation and sustainable use of food and agriculture genetic resources.

Theme Discussion 1: Community-Based In Situ Conservation of Food and Agriculture Genetic Resources

The first discussion session took place under the theme of “Community-Based In Situ Conservation of Food and Agriculture Genetic Resources“. Liu Xiting from Muyunpo shared how the Bosa Seed Bank makes full use of local resources, combining traditional culture with villagers’ need for public activity spaces to promote the establishment of practical operational and management systems. Yu Jiangang from “Meihe Yu” shared his motivations for returning to the village and his sense of cultural identity, the pathways and principles of living conservation, as well as the pop-up events for traditional foods and the food-and-farming writing projects he organises. Faced with real challenges such as village demolition and the disappearance of traditional family farms, Yu Jiangang hoped, through his efforts, to rebuild a sustainable farming culture system.

Lu Ruixiang from Aohan Banner, the world’s birthplace of millet, shared how local seed companies work with communities to promote the conservation of Aohan Banner millet varieties. Lu Ruixiang hopes to develop agriculture based on crop–livestock integration, carry out conservation of heritage seeds, and conduct variety adaptability trials.

Ni Yongwang, a young returnee from the Quebird Miao Village at Leigong Mountain, shared the operations of the Quebird Manyou Family Ecological Farm, and how cross-sector collaboration has helped promote Guizhou’s local “half-rice companion cropping” network for the exchange of heritage rice cultivation seeds, spreading farming wisdom to the wider public.

At the close of the first discussion, Zhang Zongwen from the Beijing Office of the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) delivered comments on the theme of the current status and trends of in situ conservation of food and agriculture genetic resources in China.

Mr Zhang commended the work of the Farmer Seed Network and its approach to the living conservation of heritage seeds. He remarked, “In the process of conservation, we are also using and selecting varieties, continuously breeding them to adapt to improvements in nutrition and food, which can effectively help our rural development.”

Mr Zhang also reminded us to pay attention to the new national policies recently issued on the conservation and registration of local germplasm resources, which could in future serve as important evidence for property rights confirmation.

Mr Zhang Zongwen delivering comments and sharing his reflections

Theme Discussion II: Case Studies of Farmer Varieties from Seed to Table

The second discussion session took place under the theme of “Case Studies of Farmer Varieties from Seed to Table”. Xiao Yunsheng from the Beijing Organic Farmers Market shared the potential for farmer varieties to be revitalised through the market. Xiao Yunsheng compared the differing perspectives of consumers, producers and researchers, and suggested that farmers, in the process of commercialisation, should return to the consumer’s viewpoint—Can I eat it? Is it tasty? How do I cook it? Can I order it (by courier)? At the same time, Xiao Yunsheng highlighted the format of offline farmers markets, the strong connection fostered by face-to-face interaction, and the advantages this offers when promoting non-standardised heritage varieties.

Chen Ziyu from Wocuiyuan Ecological Farm shared experience of connecting ecologically grown heritage varieties to the market, telling the story of how Wocuiyuan has persevered in growing heritage varieties despite all manner of difficulties. Chen Ziyu expressed gratitude to the Beijing Organic Farmers Market, through which consumers and farmers have built urban–rural mutual trust, keeping their appointments through wind and rain alike.

Li Zhi from Genben Garden shared the story of heritage variety sprouts reaching consumers. Genben Garden grows sprouts using organic methods, and products such as soybean sprouts, mung bean sprouts and pea shoots have proved popular in the market.

Wu Xiangxing from San Niang Wan Village, Qinzhou City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region shared how “new” varieties entering vegetable gardens are supporting science education at San Niang Wan’s school, and how, through the power of the community, vegetable gardens have been planted within the primary school, not only greening the campus but also boosting food and farming education for local primary school pupils.

At the close of the second discussion, Chang Tianle from Foodthink delivered comments on the theme of how farmer varieties can be integrated into ecological agriculture value chains. Chang explored the uniformity and heterogeneity of varieties, and whether one should compromise layer by layer to accommodate different consumer expectations. She believed that if our positioning is our own ideal lifestyle—even if we do not earn as much as we might have hoped, yet we are living the life we want and staying true to our simple, original aspiration—then that, too, is being at peace with oneself.

Chang Tianle from Foodthink delivering comments

Theme Discussion III: Ecological Seed Certification

The third discussion session was a dedicated session on ecological seed certification. David Gould, Seed Platform Officer at IFOAM – Organics International, shared the organisation’s positions and experience across multiple aspects, including how to safeguard the supply of organic seeds and protect farmers’ rights. Xu Qian from Beijing Ecocert Certification Centre Limited presented the certification specifications for ecological seeds and ecological products of farmer varieties. Xu Qian believed that heritage varieties and ecological agriculture complement each other well, and that a model combining ecological seed and product certification for farmer varieties could open a pathway towards their sustainable use.

Zhao Jianshe from Henan Zhongyuan Organic Agriculture Research Institute shared experiences of organic vegetable seed production and certification in Henan, how Zhongyuan Organic Research Institute promotes the conservation of local varieties, and organic seed programmes. Wang Rui from the Beijing Organic Farmers Market shared his reflections on practising Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS).

At the close of the third discussion, Mr Qiao Yuhui from the College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, delivered comments on the theme of reviewing and looking ahead to China’s organic agriculture and organic seed systems.

Mr Qiao highlighted the enormous gap between the number of organic certifications (25,000) and organic seed certifications (45), and the opportunities within that gap. Mr Qiao believed that local seeds are the most suitable for organic seed production, and that the systematic growing process must be taken into account. Ecological agriculture and heritage seed conservation are mutually reinforcing, and their potential should be allowed to flourish under natural conditions.

Mr Qiao Yuhui from the College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, delivering comments

Free Forum: Agriculture and Climate Change — Perceptions, Impacts and Responses

On the evening of Day 1, Wang Hao from Foodthink and Shen Ye from the Farmer Seed Network organised a free forum on the theme of “Agriculture and Climate Change — Perceptions, Impacts and Responses”. Farmers from across the country were divided into five groups by region to discuss the challenges they had faced in recent years due to climate change, the measures they had taken in response, and the difficulties they encountered. Through these discussions, farmers learned from one another how to cope with different climate impacts, while also revealing the far-reaching consequences of climate change across the entire country.

DAY 2: Exploration and Debate

In the morning, sessions explored the specific meaning and practical pathways of biodiversity conservation and use from multiple perspectives, including science and local government. Cheng Chen from Shanshui Nature Conservation interpreted the 2030 biodiversity targets set out in the Kunming–Montreal Framework, fully endorsing the small-but-beautiful family farm model and calling on everyone to pool their efforts in agricultural production and seed conservation, transforming risks into opportunities.

Liu Qianqian from Westlake University presented her team’s latest progress in agroforestry research and introduced artificial-intelligence-based ecological monitoring technology. Zou Yi from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University shared her team’s quantitative research findings on biodiversity, using robust data to demonstrate that increases in biodiversity within a given area are closely linked to ecological agriculture practices.

Subsequently, staff from grassroots agricultural bureaux shared their experience of local farming practices and seed conservation. He Xianlin introduced the dryland terrace system in Shexian, Hebei, emphasising the importance of stimulating farmers’ own motivation. Feng Eryong, Director of the Qiongzhou County Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Li Qing from the Grain and Materials Reserve Bureau of Yuanyang County, Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province, presented their local work to protect Qiongzhou Shanlan rice and Hani Terrace red rice. Wang Chengfa from the Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Kaihua County, Zhejiang Province, shared a case study on the collection and conservation of local varieties in Kaihua County. Having worked in agriculture on the front lines for decades, they demonstrated the guiding role that local governments play in advancing ecological agriculture practices and variety conservation.

Embracing Nature, Seed Exchange

On the afternoon of 9 April, everyone boarded a coach and travelled 43 kilometres to Kunshan Yuefeng Island Organic Farm. Adjacent to Yangcheng Lake, the farm greeted visitors with a burst of vibrant life the moment they stepped through the gate. Guided by Tangge (Tang Yaozhong), everyone strolled along the flagstone paths, embracing the gifts of the ecosystem.

Walking to the wooden hut, everyone sampled glutinous rice cakes made from the local rice variety Su Yunuo, rolled in soybean flour ground from local soybeans and drizzled with brown sugar syrup—each bite sweeping away the day’s fatigue. This was a special display booth set up by Yuefeng Island Organic Farm for the “Small Beans, Big Health: A Biodiversity Perspective amid Climate Change” project, supported by the Vanke Public Welfare Foundation. Six canvases depicting distinctive bean varieties from different communities adorned the walls, while the table was laden with the rich array of bean varieties conserved by the farm, among which the locally unique Niutabin bean attracted the most attention.

The diverse array of bean varieties and the fragrant soybean-flour rice cakes drew weekend visitors to pause, observe, and taste. Representatives from Yuefeng Island Organic Farm, Shitoucheng, and Wangjinzhuang shared their communities’ stories of small beans—stories of connection, linkages, and conservation. The diverse beans and their culinary culture captivated every consumer and visitor; picking up Niutabin and Yanyan Wuzhu beans to examine them closely, people exclaimed at the value of these legumes and declared that upholding local cultivation and strengthening healthy eating were both urgent and unwavering commitments.

Meanwhile, participating farmers were enthusiastically exchanging seeds. Tian Milin guided everyone on a journey “flying” from Suzhou to Banna, then on to Guizhou, passing through Guangxi, Henan, and Hebei, before finally reaching Inner Mongolia. Farmers vividly recounted their stories with seeds and signed their names one after another on the Seed Exchange Pledge, exchanging not only seeds but also pledges of friendship, trust, and reciprocity.

DAY 3

After two days of rich and substantive discussion and learning, everyone still felt there was more to explore on Day 3 and seized the half-day before departure to visit the Organic Waste Research Institute of China Agricultural University and its ecological rice trial plots, bringing a perfect close to this gathering with a scientific visit. Through everyone’s united efforts, the Farmer Seed Network has grown steadily and has now reached its tenth year, with nearly a hundred attendees this year. The Farmer Seed Network feels like a cross-disciplinary experiment: a tiny seed connects farmers with scientists and social organisations, those born in the 1950s with those born in the 2000s, and villages separated by a thousand kilometres… We have been united by seeds, and in the process of conserving and using them, have come to embrace ecological values and a deeper respect for nature. To all our mentors and friends—until next year!

Written by: Wen Xinquan, Li Meng

Edited by: Li Guanqi, Liang Weiwei

Photography: Zhu Yu, Shen Ye