Community Seed Bank Labs – Workshop funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ project Seeds of Growth (Project ID: KA210-ADU-1727BE52)
This presentation by Klára Hrdá (Semínkovna) explains the origins, purposes and practical functions of Community Seed Banks (CSBs) and related models such as seed libraries. It outlines the Seeds of Growth project goal to strengthen seed-saving practices and support CSBs across Europe, listing expected outcomes like capacity building, knowledge exchange, awareness raising and links with education. The slides define CSBs as collective, locally governed initiatives embedded in informal seed systems that focus on conserving, regenerating, multiplying and sharing locally adapted seed. Historical context traces CSB development from in situ conservation through community biodiversity management, and contrasts emergence patterns in different European regions. Core activities described include seed multiplication, storage, distribution, documentation, training, database management and participatory breeding. The presentation distinguishes lower-threshold seed libraries from more systematic CSBs, highlights diversity of organisational forms and scales in Europe, and summarises key messages: CSBs are part of a shift toward dynamic, community-led management of agrobiodiversity, combining technical, social and governance roles to support seed diversity, exchange and resilience.
Key topics: community seed banks, seed libraries, seed saving, agrobiodiversity, seed exchange, seed stewardship, participatory breeding, seed conservation
