Raising awareness of the importance of preserving native seeds in the João Batista II settlement

Abstract

Creole varieties are genetic assets cultivated by family farmers, traditional peoples, and indigenous people that are passed from generation to generation and have characteristics directly related to the place where they are grown. These seeds have an immeasurable value for farmers, because they represent, above all, the autonomy and food sovereignty of these individuals who save them, exchange them, eat them, and use them for sowing. Thus, it is important to value native seeds as a means to make farmers aware of the importance of preserving these seeds for the production of healthy and agroecological food, aiming at peasant food sovereignty. The participatory dynamic in this report was based on an appointment with one of the leaders of the Social Movement (MST) and that until the meeting had been part of the front line of the association, the dialogue took place on May 25, 2023 at the Roberto Remigi school located in the municipality of Castanhal, in the João Batista II settlement. The dynamic held with the farmers of the João Batista II settlement was extremely important to bring the seed research group closer to the farmers, where they could express their opinions and concerns about the topics, suggesting proposals and improvements in the research, with the goal of adapting it to the reality of the community, thus being a key moment to strengthen the ties between education, agricultural sciences and extension, with a focus on sustainable food production, but also on valuing farmers as the main actors of their territories.