Communities
At EC-LLD, we believe in the power of communities coming together to drive positive change. Our work aim to facilitate peer-to-peer exchange of practices, experiences, and information among diverse actors, fostering collaboration and innovation in the field of cultivated agrobiodiversity.
We provide a platform for individuals and organizations to connect, share, and learn from one another. Through our network, farmers, seed savers, NGO members, and emerging small enterprises can engage in meaningful dialogue, exchange best practices, and inspire each other with innovative ideas. This collaborative space nurtures a community of like-minded individuals committed to cultivating biodiversity and promoting sustainable food systems. We facilitate peer-to-peer learning, enabling actors from different backgrounds and regions to share their practical insights and lessons learned. Through participatory dialogues, we also provide spaces for diverse actors to engage in constructive discussions on topics related to agrobiodiversity, sustainable farming, and seed policies. These dialogues encourage active participation, knowledge sharing, and collaborative problem-solving, ensuring that the voices of all community members are heard and respected.
Projects
SEE_ECLLD
Strengthen and Enlarging the European Coordination – LLD network
Seeding Europe
Arche Noah, Kybele and Let’s Liberate Diversity! implemented SEEDING EU, to reinforce the capacity of associations and individuals working to conserve and increase seed diversity to understand and monitor the public policies that impact the conservation and use of seeds.
News
EU Agriculture Ministers Restrict Farmers’ Rights
ARCHE NOAH warns: Council position hands more power to seed industry! An effective ban on the work of small cereal breeders, prohibitions on farmer seed exchange, and a bureaucratic nightmare for local seed producers. Today’s General Approach on the proposed new EU Seed Law adopted by the Council of Agriculture Ministers threatens agrobiodiversity and plays into the hands of the agrochemical lobby.
New paper on consequences of deregulation on the seed sector
Our colleagues at IG Saatgut have shared with us a summary of their latest position paper on NGTs. You can find the summary paper in this post.
Read the latest LiveSeeding Policy Brief
LiveSeeding recently published their second policy brief, this time focusing on the different definitions of plant breeding in the organic sector.
Granollers Symposium: resources and next steps
Our partner María Carrascosa from Red de Municipios por la Agroecología recently shared updates on the Granollers Symposium 2025. Here we share the summary of next steps, and shared resources from the symposium.
Inf’OGM Podcast on GMOs and Biotech
Inf’OGM has recently began a podcast series on GMOs and biotech. Here we share the link to the first episodes. Enjoy!
New Agroecology Digest September 2025
In this post we share the latest Agroecology Digest, published by the FAO’s Agroecology Knowledge Hub.
Farmer-Managed Seed Systems in Tanzania: Workshop report
The report and policy brief from the workshop “Creating Space for Farmers’ Seeds in Seed Regulations – Capitalizing International Learnings and Identifying Options for Tanzania” are now available. We share them here.
Réseau Semence Paysannes press release: Seeds targeted by war
Our colleagues at Réseau Semence Paysannes recently published a press communication in response to the Israeli government’s destruction of the seeds bank in Hébron, Palestine. We share the press release here.
Bring your seeds to the LLD Forum!
CALL FOR SEEDS! If you are joining us at the 14th European Forum ‘Let's Liberate Diversity’ this coming September, please bring your seeds from bean, pumpkin, and corn varieties. We will use them to illustrate our political message for the liberation of cultivated...
Growing the Movement: Connecting Global Seed Networks at the LLD! Forum
The LLD Forum 2025 will witness a global convergence of farmers’ seed initiatives and networks working to build shared infrastructure, strengthen coordination, and support farmers’ seed systems and cultivated diversity worldwide.
New Agroecology Digest, June 2025
The June 2025 issue of the Agrecology FAO Agroecology Knowledge Hub’s journal has been published. This month’s issue explores, among other topics, the urgent need to transition food systems away from fossil fuels.
Final Report Released: 13th Let’s Liberate Diversity! Forum and International Gathering “Sow Your Resistance”
We are delighted to announce the release of the Final Report of the 13th Let’s Liberate Diversity! Forum, which in 2024 was hosted as part of the International Gathering “Sow Your Resistance” in Antibes, France. Co-organised by Réseau Semences Paysannes (RSP), SOL,...
Support the European Citizens’ Initiative on the Right to Food!
Last month, Good Food for All – EU (GFFA-EU) officially submitted the European Citizens’ Initiative on the Right to Food to the European Commission. Now, the GFFA-EU Coalition is seeking support from organisations and individuals across the EU to build momentum for the campaign. Here, we provide options for supporting the movement.
Let’s Liberate Diversity! Forum 2025 – Registration Now Open
We are excited to announce that registration is now open for the Let’s Liberate Diversity! Forum 2025, co-organised by Let’s Liberate Diversity!, Lycée Technicque Agricole (LTA), SEED Luxembourg, and LUGA Join us in Luxembourg from 4 to 6 September 2025 for a...
Cultivated Diversity – Organic seeds for tasty food
EU project LiveSeeding leaflets on cultivated diversity and organic breeding in several languages, and a bonus video of a baker that has adopted the biodiverse flour from populations in his work.
EU plant breeders up against patents by the multinationals
More and more plant breeding material in the EU is getting patented by multinationals giants, a development that poses costs and hurdles for those small breeders that are working to maintain agrobiodiversity, a means of resilience in the face of climate change.
Welcome Foundation Alica and Semínkovna: New Members Strengthening ECLLD!
We’re excited to announce that Foundation Alica from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Semínkovna from the Czech Republic have joined the European Coordination Let’s Liberate Diversity! With expertise in seed diversity, community engagement, and agroecology, these organizations will enrich our efforts to promote biodiversity and sustainable seed practices across Europe.
London Freedom Seed Bank open for seed donations
The London Freedom Seed Bank is open for donation of collected seeds by the Network Growers and any new Growers that register and submit a seed donation form first.
LiveSeeding at the Let’s Liberate Diversity Forum and International Farmers’ Gathering Sow your Resistance.
From October 3rd to 5th, Antibes hosted the latest edition of the Let’s Liberate Diversity (LLD) Forum, integrated into the International Gathering ‘Sow Your Resistance’. With 500 participants from across the globe, the event brought together farmers, researchers,...
Let’s Liberate Diversity Forum, Antibes 2024: Strengthening Global Seed Networks
From October 3rd to 5th, Antibes was home to the Let’s Liberate Diversity Forum, which took place during the International Gathering ‘Sow Your Resistance’. With 500 participants from all over the world, this landmark event brought together diverse stakeholders...
Moving toward 100% organic seed use in German organic agriculture
A new academic paper was published in journal Organic Farming and is available as Open Access online: Trends in use of crop cultivars from organic and conventional seed multiplication: Moving toward 100% organic seed use in German organic agriculture. ABSTRACT In...
Strategic Dialogue on the future of EU agriculture
This month marked the end of the Strategic Dialogue on the future of EU agriculture, an initiative first announced by President of the EU Commission Von der Leyen at her State of the Union address last year and that saw stakeholders in Europe engaged in discussions...
Protecting crops through plant diversity
The INRAE has recently published a free-to-download eBook by the title ‘Protecting crops through plant diversity‘ in the context of project Ecophyto 2+ meant to reduce the use of synthetic pesticides to protect public health. This book is intended for research and teaching purposes, as well as agricultural, environmentaland citizen stakeholders.
The Organic Advice Network
A new initiative was launched in the spring 2024 as part of the EU Farm to Fork Strategy and aligned to its target of achieving 25% organic farmland by 2030. The project aims to address the urgent need for skilled advisors in organic farming by creating and nurturing...
PGR management in farmers seed network in Europe and China
EC-LLD recently participated in an online event hosted by Pro Specie Rara, one of our members, to welcome a Chinese delegation at their headquarters in Switzerland. This was a significant step in our ongoing efforts to strengthen international collaboration and exchange knowledge on biodiversity and sustainable agriculture.
Agroecology in and for Europe (AE4EU Project)
The second volume of results from the AE4EU European project’s mapping exercise an agroecology in Europe was published. It includes material on Denmark, France, Hungary, Ireland, Moldova, The Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and
the UK.
Land Squeeze – New release from the IPES Food
The struggle for land and the preservation of seed diversity are deeply interconnected. As land is increasingly monopolized by large entities, the diverse farming systems maintained by small-scale farmers and seed savers are being eroded.
FAO resources on millets
Millets are resilient plants: they can grow on arid land with minimal inputs in changing climates. All resources created during IYM2023 are now available online
SAVE the DATE – 13th LLD Forum 2024 at Sow Your Resistance, in France
The European Coordination Let’s Liberate Diversity! invite you to participate in the LLD Forum from the 3rd o the 5th of October in the beatiful city of Antibes, France.
EU agrobiodiversity conservation at risk
While an improvement on the EU Commission’s draft, the EU Parliament resolutions to be put into law still fail to support agrobiodiversity conservation. But there is still time for EU Member States to act.
NOW ONLINE: Liveseeding Practical Guide Seed Drying & Storage
The Practical Guide for drying and storing vegetable seeds in organic small-scale and on-farm seed production is now available online in French and English.
FAO Agroecology Knowledge Hub Digest
Read the April 2024 issue of the FAO Agroecology Knowledge Hub Digest, a taster of the insights into the world of agroecology that you could receive via email
APBREBES Newsletter #62
The April 2024 issue of the APBREBES newsletter is published on their website. Topics: UPOV and smallholder rights, NGTS and EU regulation.
Results of the European Parliament vote on Plant Reproductive Materials
Vote on EU seed law: Industry attack on diversity largely defeated EU Parliament votes in favour of farmers’ right to seeds – but fails to strengthen the preservation of local and traditional varieties
Hot Water Treatments to Sanitize Vegetable Seeds
Liveseeding hosted a 3h webinar entitled "Hot Water Treatments to Sanitize Vegetable Seeds" on Tuesday, March 26th, co-organised by Bingenheimer Saatgut AG (DE), the French Organic Food and Farming Institute (ITAB, FR) and the European Coordination Let's Liberate...
Report of the 12th Let’s Liberate Diversity! Forum in Dublin and a glimpse into the Future LLD! Forum in France
Organized by the European Coordination Let’s Liberate Diversity! (EC-LLD), the 12th Edition of the LLD! Forum event marked a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to promote the dynamic management of agricultural biodiversity.
Resilient Seed Systems: Shared Action Framework
The Global Alliance for the Future of Food published a Shared Action Framework and strategic brainstorming tool for action in support of resilient food systems
Opinion: patents and GMOs in organic production
This piece describes how regulation shaped plant breeding markets and how genetic techniques may or may not fit in with organic breeding
Organic Heterogeneous Material: new operators’ tutorial
A tutorial on the new EU Organic Heterogeneous Material (OHM) regime is available to enable new operators to enter this exciting market for agrobiodiversity
Taking action together for a better EU Seed Law
A useful advocacy package from Arche Noah, it includes slides and recordings from the November 23 workshop, a position paper and a section on the website
Major philanthropies urge massive scale up of agroecology and regenerative approach. An opportunity demanding scrutiny.
Can this financial influx truly drive positive change, or might it inadvertently support questionable practices under the guise of agroecology? The need for transparent, accountable, and community-driven initiatives is paramount to avoid the pitfalls of appropriation.
Policymakers should respect the organic movement’s choice on NGTs
Read more on the organic sector position against NGTs and their appeal to MEPs and Member States to regulate these new GMOs.
FAO State of Food and Agriculture 2023
The FAO report on the State of Food and Agriculture 2023 focusses on True Cost Accounting for food system transformation, offering national-level assessments for 154 countries.
Farmers’ Rights: a new online resource
A new resource on Farmers’ Rights and ITPGRFA is available online
Réseau Semences Paysannes: 20th anniversary celebrations
The Réseau Semences Paysannes celebrated its 20th anniversary at the end of September 2023. Members got the opportunity to have their say on the future of the network.
New paper on the possible deregulation of GMO in EU
This report looks at the possible implications and
consequences of the proposed deregulation of certain genetically
modified (GM) plants
ELKANA organised the Organic Farming and Agroecology conference in Georgia
The international conference of the ECLLD member ELKANA on Organic Farming and Agroecology took place in Georgia
EU Seed reform under scrutiny: Unpacking criticisms and concerns from ECLLD members
Discussions on the New EU Seed Regulation – Perspectives from ECLLD’s Members
Joint Letter to the European Commission on the EU Seed Marketing Legislation
Cultivated diversity advocates write joint letter to the European Commission ahead of the EU Seed Marketing Legislation reform proposal
Genetic engeneering endangers the protection of species
In view of the upcoming EU proposal of updated rules on plants produced with New Genomic Techniques (NGTs, NBTs), Test Biotech released in 2020 report: “Genetic engeneering endangers the protection of species”.
Rural resilience: a collective adventure
A report on socio-ecological transitions concludes: “It’s a long road to building a new way of imagining life in the countryside.” “None of us can do it alone.”
Radicchio: a success story of culinary breeding
The Culinary Breeding Network organizes activities to inspire connection and collaboration throughout the food system, in order to improve plant breeding for organic farming. Among these activities was a trip to Italy, visiting the places where radicchio – the most famous form of plant Chicorium intybus – originates from.
Organic seed and breeding sector: stakeholder survey
The EU project Liveseeding is looking for input from current and prospective organic seed producers and traders in order to identify which obstacles are in the way of the horizontal proliferation (scale-out) and scale-up of organic seed and cultivar testing in the EU.
Bringing diversity to Fields with Heritage Grains
Today’s food production is dependent on a small number of crops. By bringing old varieties back to the fields, the diversity of crops can be increased on farms. A Finnish projects shows that the special raw materials that are old seed varieties can bring economic value as food and associated services.
FiBL: Visiting Friends of Agrobiodiversity Across Europe
“To get to know this diversity better, we take you on a journey through Europe from north to south, visiting the pioneers of organic plant and animal breeding.
With their diverse and unique activities, they are contributing, not only to ecological, but also to societal resilience. “
SPD#8: UPOV Convention – its Impact on Farmers in Europe and Globally
To discuss policy developments that affect crop diversity movements, the European Coordination Let’s Liberate Diversity (ECLLD) has launched a series of virtual Seed Policy Dialogues. The last SPD of the year in December 2021 was dedicated to plant variety protection, and more specifically to the 1991 Act of the UPOV Convention
No Patents on Seeds! calls for an International Conference
No Patents on Seeds! has started a petition calling for an international conference. The organisation is demanding that a ministerial conference of the contracting states of the EPO is held within one year, with the aim of taking effective measures to stop patents being granted on conventional plant and animal breeding.
Have your say: reform for plants produced by new breeding techniques
The European Commission has opened a public consultation until 22 October on new genomic techniques. This initiative will propose a legal framework for plants obtained by targeted mutagenesis and cisgenesis and for their food and feed products.
ECLLD-NEWS! February
Europe - It's time to exchange seeds, what initiatives are there in your country? Within what legal framework is it possible to act? How can we have organic varieties and how is the organic plant breeding status? KWANN-Norwegian Seed Savers organized a...
Seed Saving for Local Adaptation
The Norwegian Seed Savers will soon be hosting a webinar on Seed Saving for Local Adaptation with Dr. Bradley Tonnesen, who comes recommended courtesy of the Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance. Dr. Bradley Tonnesen holds a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from Colorado State...
BIOFACH – World´s Leading Trade Fair for Organic Food
The trade fair duo BIOFACH and VIVANESS will take place in 2021 from 17 - 19 February 2021 completely digital. Organic is more than a label or certification: organic stands for quality and conviction – for the responsible use of nature’s resources. BIOFACH in the...
ECO-PB Newsletter January 2021
WEBSITE UPDATES Training & teaching materialThe COVID-19 pandemic has created the largest disruption of education systems in history, affecting nearly 1.6 billion learners in more than 190 countries and all continents (United Nations, 2020). To counteract...
To register or not to register, that is the question
Sharing views and experiences around the registration of farmers’ varieties Webinar co-organized by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and Oxfam NetherlandsDATE: Tuesday, 10 November 2020TIME: 14:00 – 15:30 (UTC+01:00)> REGISTER HERE <...
APREBES: Updates on Plant Variety Protection Issue #40, 11 May 2020
the latest issue of APREBES (Association for Plant Breeding for the Benefit of Society) was released #40, 11 May 2020 Here more information https://www.apbrebes.org/ APBREBES
Why Organic Breeding?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o31AZM-mes Video of the Engagement.Biobreeding Europe project https://www.biobreeding.org Organic breeding needs a long-term commitment that has a positive effect on the entire agri-food system. The integrity of tomorrow's organic...
France : a new ethical charter and an updated definition of peasant seeds for the national seed network.
Over the past three years, peasant seeds and the products derived from them (veggies, flour, bread …) have been more and more attractive for agribusiness actors as an interesting niche market. In France, we choose to use the concept of « commons » not...
SUMMER SCHOOL: Participatory Plant Breeding & Resilient Seed Systems
Whithin DYNAVERSITY we are organizing a summer school on Participatory Plant Breeding & Resilient Seed Systems Sunday 16 – Friday 21 August 2020 https://www.pe-rc.nl/PPB-RSS Preliminary programme Sunday afternoon (before dinner) the course starts off with...
Farmers’ Seeds awarded to the Stars of Europe “Étoiles de l’Europe”
The European project DIVERSIFOOD on participatory breeding and farmer seeds, coordinated by Véronique Chable of INRA and in partnership (among others) with KAOL KOZH (on cabbage) has just been awarded by the Minister of Research and the CEO of INRA last Tuesday at the...
International appeal to the President of the European Patent Office, António Campinos
Call for an immediate moratorium of patents on plants and animal 24 January 2019 / No Patents on Seeds! together with more than 40 other organisations today published an international appeal to the president of the European Patent Office...
