At the “From Seed to Seed” event organised under the leadership of Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality, the vital importance of local seeds in the face of industrial agriculture was underscored.

Led by the Department of Climate Change and Zero Waste and supported by the Ecology Association and the Agriculture Commune of the Ecology Council, the programme was held at the Agroecology Climate School Campus and brought critical issues such as nature-compatible production, seed freedom and food sovereignty to the fore.

As part of the programme, the Department of Climate Change and Zero Waste hosted an open-air screening at the Agroecology Climate School Campus of the documentary series “From Seed to Seed”, which consists of 40 short films and serves as a guiding resource for everyone interested in agroecological production.

The film offered viewers important perspectives

During the event, audiences watched the short film “From Seed to Seed”, which focuses on the experiences of the Longo Maï Commune, founded in southern France in 1973. The film vividly portrays the commune’s struggle to protect local, reproducible seeds as part of its alternative model of living and production in opposition to industrial agriculture policies. The sustainable relationship that the Longo Maï community has built with nature, together with its solidarity-based way of life shaped by collective production, offered viewers an inspiring perspective.

The Future of Local Seeds Was Discussed

Following the screening, participants came together for a talk entitled “The Longo Maï Commune and the Struggle for Seeds”, featuring Kiraz Özdağ and Bediz Yılmaz, who have both carried out studies on the commune. The discussion focused on preserving knowledge of local seed cultivation, collectively rethinking production processes, and expanding ecological farming practices.

The role of local authorities was also discussed

In the interactive discussion with participants, attention was drawn to the need to protect open-pollinated seeds, strengthen producers’ independence, and pass traditional agricultural practices at risk of disappearing on to future generations. The role of local authorities and civil society organisations in this field was also addressed.

Seeds are the key to the future

The event once again demonstrated that seeds are not merely an agricultural input, but a strategic element in terms of ecological balance, food security and social autonomy. While the “From Seed to Seed” gathering highlighted the importance of local production and nature-friendly living, it also helped foster a strong sense of awareness among participants.