Theater am Rand: Seed and Plant Exchange

The seed and plant exchange has long been a part of the spring kickoff at the Theater am Rand. The underlying idea: Globalized corporations exploit their monopoly position to transform natural diversity into bred uniformity. The old, robust, locally adapted landraces are being displaced by globally developed, mostly hybrid varieties. Only vibrant exchange can counteract this process. Let’s swap our seeds and share our knowledge! Open-pollinated vegetable varieties are an age-old yet current alternative to hybrids and genetic engineering – lively, nutrient-rich, and important for biodiversity. Ute Boekholt from the seed and permaculture garden Alt-Rosenthal, which also tends to our theater garden, will gladly provide inspiration and practical tips for starting seed work in your own garden. Around 3 PM, Judith Düesberg, an ecologist and genetic engineering expert at the Gene-Ethical Network, will give a lecture titled “Genetic Engineering in New Clothes – Threat to Transparency, Freedom of Choice, and Coexistence”: Currently, the EU is issuing a free pass for plants that have been modified with new genetic techniques. If the law is adopted, there will be no risk assessment, labeling requirement, or liability claims for these plants and their products. In the lecture, I will briefly explain what the new genetic techniques are and what consequences the new regulation text has for organic farming, seed diversity, and consumers. After that, I look forward to an engaging exchange with you! Following the seed exchange, at 5 PM, we will show two films as part of the [Brandenburg Eco Film Tour](/spielplan/brandenburger-oekofilmtour/) with a discussion with the audience. No registration or reservation is necessary. For more information: https://theateramrand.de/spielplan/tauschboerse/