Seed Battles 2014
Distributed by Icarus Films, 32 Court St., 21st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201; 800-876-1710
Produced by Helen Goossens
Directed by Helen Goossens
DVD , color, 50 min.
General Adult
Activism, Agriculture, Biodiversity, Social Justice, International Relations
Date Entered: 09/03/2015
Reviewed by James Gordon, University at Buffalo LibrariesDNA is data. Professor Cary Fowler recognized that it would prudent for the world to have a way to back up its genetic plant seed data by founding the “Doomsday Vault,” a physical repository where backup plant seeds, crop seeds in particular, can be stored.
The success of humans depends on our ability to maintain biodiversity, so one might think this simple, common-sense approach to ensuring the preservation of plants would be a no-brainer. Yet, professor Fowler and the handful of like-minded individuals encountered unexpected resistance to their efforts to collect and safely store seeds.
Because seeds are valuable, those who own them and their patents are reluctant to share their seeds. Some countries take positions hoping to maximize their revenues from the seeds they control. This documentary explores those positions and the strategies the vault is taking to try to overcome them.
This film will be of interest to those interested in conserving biodiversity by ensuring that plant generations are not lost to posterity.