# Seed sovereignty, or not seed sovereignty? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussions\ **Created:** [October 16, 2026, 3:14pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/seed-sovereignty-or-not-seed-sovereignty/5131 "2026-10-16T15:14:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MashaZ](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/mashaz/32/477_2.png) [@MashaZ](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/MashaZ)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2026, 3:14pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/seed-sovereignty-or-not-seed-sovereignty/5131/1 "2026-10-16T15:14:24Z")
USDA redefines “seed sovereignty” [Not Seed Sovereignty - Acres U.S.A.® Magazine](https://members.acresusa.com/not-seed-sovereignty/?utm) ---
**Author:** ![VeggieSavage](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/veggiesavage/32/3383_2.png) [@VeggieSavage](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/VeggieSavage)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2026, 2:18am UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/seed-sovereignty-or-not-seed-sovereignty/5131/2 "2026-10-18T02:18:35Z")
" These germplasm centers propagate and store seeds and trees and distribute small quantities of germplasm (25 seeds) to “professional plant breeders and other career research scientists” at no charge except for shipping. The NPGS does not distribute seeds to home gardeners." Does GTS count? Are we not also professional plant breeders? Our organization is a mix of both professional & beginner/armature plant breeders GTS is like a living seed bank, each member/gardener preserves & adapts genetic diversity. I feel GTS is the closest thing to a more open-source (available to the common gardener) alternative to the “National Plant Germplasm System”. I collect lots of wild seeds when I forage for wild edibles, does this make me a seed collector for GTS (especially of wild germaplasm)? Some of my wild foraged seeds did end up in the GTS “Fukuoka Grab Bag - Everything Else” mixes as did wild sources from many other gardeners. ---
**Author:** ![poppy](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/poppy/32/22078_2.png) [@poppy](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/poppy)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2026, 2:57am UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/seed-sovereignty-or-not-seed-sovereignty/5131/3 "2026-10-18T02:57:17Z")
> Are we not also professional plant breeders? Our organization is a mix of both professional & beginner/armature plant breeders I think “professional” here implies you’re either working for a corporation as a plant breeder, or you’re an academic researcher who breeds plants as a part of a research program. I don’t think they consider amateur (or “freelance”, as Carol Deppe prefers to call them) plant breeders as “professional”, whether they breed plants for a living or not. I think the term “professional” just implies institutional sponsorship, essentially - you’re either part of a university or corporate entity, or you’re unaffiliated (and thus not “professional”). > **[Distribution GRIN-Global](https://web.archive.org/web/20260221061516/https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/distribution)** > Plant germplasm is distributed to **scientists, educators, producers and other bona fide research and education entities** from U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) active collection sites. The NPGS Curator and/or Research Leader will, in accordance with current NPGS policies and procedures, determine the legitimacy of a request when necessary. > … > Although distributions for research, education, and repatriation are of the highest priority, the NPGS also encourages various seed-saver organizations and public gardens to conduct germplasm conservation activities that engage many individuals and groups throughout the country. Elements of the NPGS cooperate with seed-saver organizations and public gardens and may store germplasm for and distribute germplasm to such organizations. > > Distribution of germplasm from NPGS collections to fulfill requests from **individuals seeking free germplasm strictly for home use** is generally considered an inappropriate use of limited resources and **conflicts with U.S. Government policy of not competing with commercial enterprises**. Requestors can be asked, in an appropriate manner, to justify the use of specific NPGS germplasm instead of suitable commercially available germplasm. Emphasis is mine. ~~It sounds like if we knew someone who had a relationship with GRIN or NPGS, we could possibly coordinate access to germplasm for limited purposes, such as growing out an accession to increase seed stock (where the majority is contributed back to the seed bank).~~ There certainly is a history of GRIN contributions that trickled down to GTS mixes, though. See: > Favas- the seed is from 10 GRIN accessions sent to me by Anna Mieritz. They all originated in South America. There was quite a bit of diversity in the seed- mostly size and color. > [@Wild Dreams Farm adaptation projects- Favas, Spinach, watermelon](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/wild-dreams-farm-adaptation-projects-favas-spinach-watermelon/4036): > > Hey All- Here are my end of June updates- Favas- the seed is from 10 GRIN accessions sent to me by Anna Mieritz. They all originated in South America. There was quite a bit of diversity in the seed- mostly size and color. Here is one packet- I direct sowed them on March 5th. They germed by 4/9 and started flowering by 5/20 The seed pod set is looking cool and diverse as well- lots of variation of pod size, plant height and some varieties have great tillering like in t… ~~It would be nice if relationships with people with germplasm access at universities could help contribute that material either to GTS mixes, or even grow this into a separate GRIN accessions program for growing out germplasm and contributing it back. A limited trial might help establish GTS’s credibility and value, and if all goes well, that might open up access to more genetic diversity, but we would need established relationships for that.~~ EDIT: looks like GTS is able to make GRIN requests, that’s so exciting!! 🥳 ---
**Author:** ![MashaZ](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/mashaz/32/477_2.png) [@MashaZ](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/MashaZ)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2026, 11:43am UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/seed-sovereignty-or-not-seed-sovereignty/5131/4 "2026-10-18T11:43:44Z")
Yes, GTS counts. We can all get GRIN accessions through GTS - contact Anna Mieritz if there is something you want. They won’t deal with us individually but Anna can compile all our orders and submit them. ---
**Author:** ![MashaZ](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/mashaz/32/477_2.png) [@MashaZ](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/MashaZ)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2026, 11:45am UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/seed-sovereignty-or-not-seed-sovereignty/5131/5 "2026-10-18T11:45:08Z")
Yes, we have an established relationship with GRIN, see my answer to Prof. Porcupine. ---
**Author:** ![VeggieSavage](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/veggiesavage/32/3383_2.png) [@VeggieSavage](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/VeggieSavage)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2026, 4:04am UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/seed-sovereignty-or-not-seed-sovereignty/5131/6 "2026-10-19T04:04:44Z")
> [@poppy](#): > > I think the term “professional” just implies institutional sponsorship, essentially - you’re either part of a university or corporate entity, or you’re unaffiliated (and thus not “professional”). bruh… if that’s the case than that cuts off soooooo much of the actual progress made towards diversifying & re-domesticating new landraces? I originally thought professional means you both know a lot and have results of your work vs amature plant breeders who are just starting off don’t know a lot but are working on making their own landrace. Perhaps the more acurate term is advanced plant breeder vs beginner plant breeder? > [@MashaZ](#): > > We can all get GRIN accessions through GTS - contact Anna Mieritz if there is something you want. I was hoping they would have the Xishuangbanna Orange Flesh Cucumber (_Cucumis sativus subsp. sativus var. xishuangbannanensis_) but alas it doesn’t look like they did. I can’t think of any other seeds we could request at the top of mind but when needed it’s a good resource to consult. ---
**Author:** ![poppy](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/poppy/32/22078_2.png) [@poppy](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/poppy)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2026, 1:09pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/seed-sovereignty-or-not-seed-sovereignty/5131/7 "2026-10-19T13:09:47Z")
> if that’s the case than that cuts off soooooo much of the actual progress made towards diversifying & re-domesticating new landraces? I’m not sure I’m entirely following you there, but yes - excluding amateurs is disappointing, and it would be nice if the laws could change and open up the GRIN germplasm for citizens to access. We pay for it, we should have access to it. It should be like a national seed library for anyone to use and contribute to. Locking it up for only institutional access feels like a sign that the laws were crafted by business interests, not for the common good. > I originally thought professional means you both know a lot and have results of your work vs amature plant breeders who are just starting off don’t know a lot but are working on making their own landrace. > > Perhaps the more acurate term is advanced plant breeder vs beginner plant breeder? yeahhh, I think professional vs amateur is more about institutional affiliation and employment (and the implied difference in education / training). Obviously a “professional” could be recently hired out of a graduate program with no actual experience breeding plants, and an amateur could have spent their whole lives effectively breeding plants. Mendel would be considered an amateur plant breeder by this distinction. GRIN is just wanting to avoid mailing seeds to individuals, essentially. As an aside, I recommend Carol Deppe’s [article “Freelance Plant Breeding”](https://opensourceseeds.org/sites/default/files/bilder/GOSSI/PDFs/Deppe%202021%20freelance%20plant%20breeding.pdf) (as well as her book, _Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties_) .