Ata Tohumu

Heirloom seeds are local seeds selected by farmers and saved for the next planting season, adapted to changing climates and typically requiring no chemical inputs due to their compatibility with local soils. These seeds hold significance for the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources and biodiversity.

Characteristics and Importance

Heirloom seeds represent the genetic diversity that has evolved over many years to adapt to the ecological conditions of their region. Thanks to these traits, they can exhibit resilience against climate change and environmental stresses. Unlike hybrid seeds used in industrial agriculture, seeds harvested from heirloom varieties can be saved and replanted in subsequent years. Heirloom seeds also provide insights into the characteristics of a nation’s agricultural heritage and are regarded as part of its cultural legacy, serving as a bridge from past to future.

Threats and Conservation Efforts

The spread of industrial agricultural practices, the increasing use of hybrid seeds, and imbalances in food production driven by rapid population growth are among the factors threatening the survival of heirloom seeds. The widespread adoption of hybrid seeds and certain legal regulations restricting the production and sale of local seeds have negatively affected farmers’ practices of using and exchanging heirloom seeds.

Various conservation and promotion initiatives have been undertaken to counter these threats. Since 2017 in Türkiye, local seeds have been collected from farmers under projects such as “Our Heritage: Local Seeds” and the “Heirloom Seeds Project.” These seeds are then registered, multiplied, and propagated in agricultural enterprises. As a result, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, registered heirloom seeds are now available for sale in 300 Agricultural Credit Cooperatives across Türkiye. This initiative is considered a significant step toward reintroducing Türkiye’s local seeds into production through Agricultural Credit Cooperatives. Institutions such as the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM) and the General Directorate of Plant Production (BÜGEM), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, collaborate with the General Directorate of Agricultural Enterprises (TİGEM) to identify, multiply, and register local seeds. Organizations such as the National Seed Gene Bank (UTGB) also preserve plant genetic resources, including local varieties, through ex-situ conservation methods. The bank holds approximately 59,000 samples representing around 3,300 species, a significant portion of which are local varieties native to Türkiye.

Various civil society organizations and local governments also contribute to the dissemination of heirloom seeds and raise awareness by organizing seed exchange festivals.

Legal Status and Awareness

Claims that the production, planting, and sale of heirloom seeds are banned in Türkiye do not reflect the truth. The Seed Law No. 5553, enacted in 2006, does not prohibit heirloom seeds; rather, it aims to regulate the seed sector by enhancing quality and productivity and establishing certification and inspection procedures to ensure seeds meet specific standards. The Presidency Communications Center’s Disinformation Combat Unit has also confirmed that the production and use of native/heirloom seed varieties are not prohibited. However, the Seed Law encourages the use of certified seeds and regulates the commercial trade of uncertified local seeds. In 2019, the “Regulation on the Registration, Production, and Marketing of Local Varieties” was issued, further defining the procedures and principles for registering, multiplying, and marketing local seeds.

Various efforts are being made to increase awareness of heirloom seeds. As part of these efforts, scale development studies have been conducted to assess public awareness of local seeds. These studies demonstrate that heirloom seeds are associated with concepts such as cultural heritage, organic farming, and healthy living.