The Seeds Of War
A Most Critical Resource
As we create this article, the Russia-Ukraine war continues, as do the ongoing wars in the Middle East with the Palestinians being terribly maligned. As yet, true total casualties are not known and of course, this is human casualties (those reported in the news). Not to mention the fate of so many other life-forms, including plants.
To this end, it is fairly simple to store large volumes of seeds in a relatively small space. For the people in Gaza, for instance, having seeds available in Svalbard Norway is not that helpful in getting food growing via seeds saved, after conflicts. We need to have a good secured store; locally, even better; multiple stores. This is an article we wrote on setting up seed-stores-exchanges.
In a previous article we showed that pretty much all land-based life-forms depend on seeds or spores. How is then that when news outlets report on conflicts they hardly ever show the destruction being brought to bear on our plants and food systems?
Russia-Ukraine & Gaza-Lebanon Impacts on Food & Seeds
The ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza have significantly disrupted global food systems, leading to increased food insecurity and economic instability.
Russia-Ukraine Conflict:
- Global Grain Supply Disruptions: Ukraine, a major exporter of sunflower products along with wheat and corn, has seen its agricultural output severely affected by the conflict. The war has led to reduced harvests and disrupted exports, contributing to global food shortages and price increases. In addition, so much pollution from the weapons and machinery of wars has degraded such fertile soils for years to come.
- Economic Losses in Agriculture: Analysts estimate that Ukraine's agricultural sector could suffer indirect losses of up to $83 billion by the end of 2025 due to reduced harvests, disrupted exports, and increased production costs.
Israel-Gaza Conflict:
- Severe Food Insecurity in Gaza: The conflict has devastated Gaza's food systems, leading to catastrophic levels of hunger. Reports indicate that Gaza is facing one of the world's worst hunger crises, with the population on the verge of famine.
- Destruction of Agricultural Infrastructure: The ongoing conflict has resulted in the destruction of farmland, croplands, and food production facilities in Gaza, further exacerbating food shortages and malnutrition among the population.
These conflicts have not only caused immediate disruptions to local food systems but have also had far-reaching effects on global food security, highlighting the vulnerability of interconnected food supply chains to geopolitical instability.
The Pollution From Wars
Wars and armed conflicts inflict profound environmental damage, particularly through the pollution of water and land resources. Key impacts include:
Water Pollution:
Destruction of Infrastructure: Conflict often leads to the destruction of water treatment facilities, resulting in the discharge of untreated sewage into rivers and seas. For instance, in Gaza, the bombing has severely damaged water and wastewater systems, leading to significant pollution of water resources.
Chemical Contamination: The use of munitions and explosives releases hazardous chemicals into water bodies. In Ukraine, the destruction of industrial facilities has led to the leakage of pollutants like petrochemicals into rivers, contaminating drinking water sources.
Oil Spills: Conflicts can result in oil spills, devastating marine ecosystems. The MV Sounion incident in the Red Sea, where a tanker was attacked, posed a significant threat of a massive oil spill, endangering local marine life and coastal communities.
Land Pollution:
Soil Contamination: The deployment of heavy metals and toxic substances in warfare contaminates soils, rendering land infertile and hazardous for agriculture. In Ukraine, military activities have led to soil contamination with substances like arsenic and lead, impacting agricultural productivity.
Deforestation and Habitat Destruction: Military operations often result in deforestation and the destruction of natural habitats. In Ukraine, vast forest areas have been devastated due to shelling and fires, leading to significant biodiversity loss.
Debris and Hazardous Waste: Conflict generates massive amounts of debris, including hazardous materials. In Gaza, the accumulation of debris from destroyed buildings poses long-term environmental challenges, with hazardous waste contaminating the land.
These environmental impacts have long-term consequences, affecting ecosystems, human health, and livelihoods. Addressing them requires concerted efforts in environmental remediation and sustainable reconstruction post-conflict.
The Power & Resilience Of Local Seed-Saving
Seed-saving practices, particularly when rooted in landrace development, are not only resilient but critical for long-term agricultural sustainability. The narrative around the "weakness" of saved seeds can indeed be driven by interests tied to industrial seed suppliers, which prioritize dependency on proprietary, hybrid, or genetically modified seed systems. Here's why local seed-saving and landrace methods are powerful and vital:
Strengths of Locally Saved and Landrace Seeds
Adaptation to Local Conditions:
Landrace seeds evolve to thrive in specific local conditions over time, developing resistance to pests, diseases, and climatic challenges unique to the region. This adaptation surpasses the "one-size-fits-all" approach of many commercial seeds. This is an article we created relating specifically to landrace growing techniques.
In places like Gaza, where environmental conditions are harsh, landrace seeds often outperform commercial varieties due to their localized resilience.
Genetic Diversity:
Saved seeds, particularly from diverse landrace varieties, preserve a broader genetic base. This genetic diversity provides resilience to unpredictable environmental changes and can ensure long-term food security in the face of crises like drought, heatwaves, or floods.
Industrial systems often rely on monocultures, which can collapse under stress from disease or climate extremes.
Cost Effectiveness and Independence:
Farmers who save seeds reduce their reliance on costly inputs and maintain autonomy over their agricultural practices. This autonomy is critical in regions like Gaza, where access to external resources is limited by political or economic constraints.
Resilience to Supply Chain Disruptions:
Wars and conflicts disrupt seed supply chains. Locally saved seeds ensure that farmers have access to planting materials even when imports are blocked or inaccessible.
Cultural and Nutritional Significance:
Landrace seeds often carry cultural importance and are adapted to local food traditions. They also tend to maintain higher nutritional integrity compared to industrial varieties bred for yield rather than nutrient density.
Several initiatives are dedicated to supporting Palestinian agricultural resilience through seed preservation and distribution:
Seeds4Palestine: This international solidarity initiative encourages individuals to purchase seed packets locally and donate them to Palestinian communities, promoting food autonomy and ecological resilience.
Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC): UAWC operates a local seed bank in Hebron, preserving and reproducing indigenous Palestinian seeds to enhance farmers' access to locally adapted varieties.
Palestine Heirloom Seed Library: Founded by Vivien Sansour, this project focuses on conserving and promoting heritage seed varieties, along with traditional Palestinian farming practices.
Growing Palestine: This organization supports Palestinian farmers in the West Bank by providing resources for sustainable agriculture and the cultivation of native crops.
US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR): Through the "Rooting Resistance" campaign, USCPR collaborates with the Palestine Fair Trade Association to plant olive trees in Palestine, symbolizing resilience and supporting local agriculture.
These initiatives aim to bolster Palestinian agricultural sovereignty and sustainability. If you're interested in contributing, consider reaching out to these organizations to understand their current needs and how best to support their efforts.
One day we will move past the madness of Wars; in the meantime, let’s keep saving and sharing our local seeds.
Thanks as always for reading this recent post.