I’m with the Seed Library Network and we are creating a bunch of crop guides and are explaining that folks can start with open pollinated, heirloom, or landrace mixes. We paid to get this professionally translated, but I would rather run this by folks in the field to see if the language is correct. They included “heirloom” and “landrace” in the translation. I know a number of English words are often used in Spanish, but not sure about if these words are used frequently. Also, we’ve always used “guarda” is “conserva” better?
Tipo de semilla: conserva semillas de variedades de polinización abierta, variedades tradicionales (heirloom) o mezclas de razas autóctonas (landrace).
We’ve been using guardar and ahorrar in all of our brochures for years and this was the first time anyone translated save seeds with “conservar” so I was wondering about which was better. Then again, it was also the first time we had the capacity to pay someone to translate.
Give my thanks to your wife. Dale las gracias a tu esposa.
Spanish isn’t my native language, but isn’t “razas” used for animals?
Furthermore, “variedad criolla” or “acriollada” is sometimes used in Latin America to show this mixture of European or new genetics with native “nativa” one. However, this is not the case in all contexts, as some context consider “criollo” identical with “nativo”.
It’s true that it isn’t common to use the term ‘raza’ for plants, but it’s correct by definition. I know about people avoiding the word, since it was used for racist purposes long ago.
However, people talk about cat and dog races without issue.
‘Conservar ’ is a better word in my opinion. Preserve = Conservar, Save = Guardar. Conservar has the meaning of caring for the seeds so that they remain viable. Guardar has the meaning of taking them out of sight so they are not stolen. In this context you can use both, but their meanings are subtly different.
I would never use ‘Ahorrar’ for seeds. It has the meaning of avoiding or paying less for something.
There is no exact word for this in Spanish (rather texts usually rely on extended descriptions to convey this) but something close would be “variedades autóctonas” or “variedades locales” (they do not necessarily imply human intervention, the former would be better for completely native ones, while the latter also encompasses LATAMxEuro crosses)
or “variedades tradicionales” (which kind of implies human intervention…I’d say this is closer to heirloom…could also be “variedades conservadas” but it sounds a bit strange imo).
“Raza” generally implies heavier human selection, just like formal breeds (also, it is indeed way more common for animals). In the context of plants/food, “conserva” is a word generally used for preserves/pickles as far as I know in several Spanish speaking countries. “Conservar” does mean “to preserve” but it could be confusing. E.g. if someone told me there’s a text about “conservas tradicionales” I would 100% assume they mean traditional preserves/pickling methods.
Then again I’m speaking as a native speaker from Spain.
