The Farmer Cooperative Genome Project
The Farmer Cooperative genome Project (FCGP) is a collaborative effort
to return farmers and gardeners to the practice of characterizing and
saving seed. With support from the Fund for Rural America, and
administered by Oregon Tilth, the FCGP explores the feasibility of a
cooperative marketing structure that rewards producers for maintaining
our nation's most vital resource base - the seed.
Seeds are the source of agricultural enterprise. The hybrid corn, wheat,
and rice improvements ushered in a new era of agriculture throughout the
world. Unfortunately, farmers have become increasingly removed from the
genetic resources upon which they depend. Consolidation of the seed
industry, the rush to patent varieties, and recent technological
developments all result in a narrowing of the genetic base on which
agriculture stands.
What is the FCGP?
The Farmer Cooperative Genome Project is a three year project to
assemble a farmer owned seed cooperative. Participants in the effort
will learn how to work with the United States' repository of seeds (the
National PlantGermplasm System) and other seed resources, learn how to
characterize or describe varieties, learn how to grow true seeds, and
develop plant varieties for preservation and sale.
Why do we need the FCGP?
Traditional garden varieties of seed are in decline. Over two-thirds of
the nearly 5,000 non-hybrid vegetable varieties offered in 1984 seed
caralogs were dropped by 1994. Less than 10% of the seed companies in
the world are responsible for over 63% of the varieties offered in 1997.
As seed companies are lost, traditional and heirloom varieties of crops
are lost. Compile the loss of known traditional varieties with the lack
of preservation efforts for native varieties, and the threat to our
common genetic heritage is staggering.
The loss of seed varieties is a loss of thousands of years of breeding
effort. Collectively, we share the common heritage of selecting the
modern broccoli and carrot from their wild relatives. There are many
implications to plant breeding and saving - economic, cultural, social,
and environmental.
National and international efforts to save seed and other genetic
resources are hampered by insufficient funding, and political and
economic barriers to information sharing. Private efforts often lack the
guidelines for maintaining populations and reproducing true seed.
Of the world's estimated two million plants, the US's genetic
repository, the National Plant Germplasm System, has approximately
450,000 varieties of plants in storage. Much of this collection is at
risk. The NPGS lack sufficient diversity for almost half of the major
crops to reduce crop vulnerability. Much of the collection is
insufficiently characterized.
The patenting of plants threatens our continued access to agricultural
resources. Patenting obliges farmers to pay royalties on every
generation of seed, breeders no longer have free access to genetic
resources to develop new varieties, and consumers end up paying higher
prices for food and medicine.
To "publish" a variety bars the patenting of that plant. Describing or
characterizing a variety and publishing that description in a catalog,
or on the internet, goes a long way toward locking that variety into the
public domain, and protecting our common heritage.
Who can participate in the FCGP?
The FCGP wants you! From the window box growing condominium dweller to
the production farmer, the FCGP is open to everyone. Gardeners who want
to take part in characterizing plants can participate in the race to
protect our common heritage. Growers that have the capacity to reproduce
seeds will be encouraged not only to characterize those varieties, but
also make them available for sale in a cooperative marketing effort.
How does the cooperative work?
While the exact nature of the cooperative is up to the direction of the
membership, the FCGP is premised on three principles:
• Growers characterize varieties according to agreed upon guidelines,
including photograps, growth descriptions, susceptibility and resistance
to pests, diseases, and stress.
• Seeds are grown in accordance to guidelines for seed regeneration that
are acceptible to the National Plant Germplasm System, and other
international seed preservation efforts.
• Member growers work with at least one other member to ensure that the
terms of the cooperative are met.
Members access true seed from the National Plant Germlasm System and
other reputable sources, grow out, and describe the variety. Seed
growers grow seed to seed according to acceptible guidelines, work with
another grower, and forward a portion of their seed to a regional
packing facility. The regional packing facility then returns a
percentage per pack sold to the grower.
The regional packing facility coordinates members, offers technical
assistance, publishes a catalog of varieties, stores, and packs and
delivers the seeds for sale.
An Advisory Council directs the activities of the project until a
rotating Board of Directors is established and the cooperative is
formalized.
In addition to facilitating trialing and development of seed varieties,
the FCGP offers support to growers to familiarize them with seed
resources, the age old art of seed growing, and the business of
cooperative development.
Growing seed is perhaps the most rewarding of enterprises. From just one
seed, hundreds, if not thousands of seeds are produced. To witness and
participate in this wealth and abundance is awe inspiring.
As we rely more on backyard gardners and farmers to maintain our genetic
heritage, it becomes increasingly important that we are careful and
knowledgeable about seed preservation.
The vast numbers of plants needing our attention warrants an army of
dedicated growers. Exploring regional varieties and developing new
crops, growers working together add a level of integrity to seed
preservation efforts, and create a model for international cooperation.
Seed packing remains one of the most accessible means of creating a
value added product. Instead of watching in dismay as a pound of seed
sold for $25 is put into thousands of packs worth $2 a piece,
participate in the FCGP!
The FCGP:
• Returns farmers and gardeners to the age old practice of seed
preservation
• Improves farmer understanding of the National Plant Germplasm System
• Identifies new varieties of plants with unique and important traits
• Fosters the development of farmer owned, low cost, value added
enterprise
• Strengthes the collaboration between growers, non-profit
organizations, and public institutions
• Encourages the public to trial and evaluate plant varieties and
publish their discoveries
• Is an international model for farmer owned seed preservation efforts
• Introduces new and traditional varieties to the gardener, farmer, and
consumer
• Reduces farmers and gardeners reliance on seed and agricultural inputs
I want to know more about the FCGP!
Name:___________________________ ________________________________
Address:__________________________ ________________________________
________________________________ ________________________________
Telephone #:______________________
Fax #:___________________________
Email:___________________________
Please provide a brief description of your gardening or growing
background and interest in seeds:_______________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Mail this form to: Farmer Cooperative Genome Project
Oregon Tilth Research and Education
30848 Maple Dr. Junction City, OR 97448
For more information contact:
JJ Haapala (540)998-3069
jhaap@tilth.org
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