The “Seed Guardians” camp continued on July 9. Organized by the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG), the event included visits to greenhouses and local vegetable producers in Marneuli, as well as meetings with amateur gardeners and students from the “Modus” College.

The event was held within the framework of the SEEDGUARD project: Seed Guardians for Biodiversity, Agrobiodiversity, Ecosystem Services, and Climate Adaptation.

The meeting was conducted in an interactive format, during which participants exchanged knowledge about seed supply and exchange practices and visited local greenhouses. Participants discussed the significant contribution of vegetable production to local economic development, as well as the legislative barriers affecting small and medium-sized producers. The discussion also addressed the need for mechanisms to support the promotion of traditional vegetable varieties at both central and local levels. Emphasis was placed on the responsibility and role of academic circles and producers in preserving authentic vegetable varieties and increasing access to their seeds. Community Seed Collections (CSC) represent one such mechanism.

In summarizing the “Seed Guardians” camp, key findings and objectives were identified: local challenges in seed production, storage, and preservation were recognized; the need to improve legislation supporting seed conservation was acknowledged; and emphasis should be placed on creating value chains to utilize and promote diverse local vegetable varieties. It is worth noting that the first day of the camp, held on July 8 at the “Modus” College in Marneuli, was dedicated to introducing the concept of Community Seed Centers (CSC) and the practices of preserving heritage seeds.

The SEEDGUARD project aims to protect traditional vegetable varieties and species, ensure agrobiodiversity and food security, and enhance the diversity of healthy food and ecosystem services. The initiative includes establishing community-based seed collections and banks, significantly improving vegetable producers’ access to traditional seeds.

The project is implemented by NALAG with co-financing from the European Union under the Black Sea Basin Program.

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