987: Rules for Global Seed Saving with Bill McDorman

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In This Podcast: In this monthly Seed Chat, Greg Peterson and Bill McDorman explore the global rules governing seed ownership, seed saving, biodiversity, and agricultural policy. The conversation dives into international treaties, plant patenting, farmers’ rights, and the growing tension between the Global North and Global South over control of genetic resources. Bill shares firsthand experiences attending United Nations treaty negotiations and working with Indigenous seed sovereignty issues through Native Seeds/SEARCH. The episode also highlights why everyday gardeners and farmers should become “seed citizens” by saving and sharing locally adapted seeds.

Bill McDorman is a renowned seed saver, educator, and advocate for agricultural biodiversity. He co-founded the Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance and has spent decades teaching gardeners and farmers how to grow, save, and share heirloom seeds. Through workshops, speaking, and mentorship, Bill inspires communities to strengthen local food systems, preserve regional seed diversity, and protect seed sovereignty for future generations.

Key Topics

• Seed libraries and locally adapted seed sharing
• International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA)
• UPOV and global plant variety protection laws
• World Trade Organization (WTO) seed policy influence
• Farmers’ rights and seed sovereignty
• Plant patenting and intellectual property in agriculture
• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
• Nagoya Protocol and access-benefit sharing
• Digital Sequence Information (DSI) and genetic ownership
• Native Seeds/SEARCH and Indigenous seed stewardship
• Organic Seed Alliance and seed policy debates
• Global North vs. Global South agricultural power dynamics
• Seed banks and the Multilateral System (MLS)
• The importance of saving open-pollinated seeds
• The future resilience of local food systems

Key Questions Answered

What is the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture?

The ITPGRFA is a legally binding international treaty created to govern the conservation, sharing, and equitable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. It officially entered into force in 2004 and now includes participation from more than 180 countries.

Why do global seed treaties matter to everyday gardeners and farmers?

These treaties influence who can save seeds, who profits from plant genetics, and how agricultural biodiversity is preserved. The policies affect food security, seed availability, farmer independence, and long-term resilience of local food systems.

What is UPOV and why is it controversial?

UPOV is an international agreement that grants intellectual property protections to plant breeders. Critics argue that newer versions of UPOV weaken farmers’ traditional rights to save and replant seeds while strengthening corporate control over agriculture.

How does the WTO influence seed laws around the world?

According to Bill McDorman, countries seeking participation in global trade systems often adopt UPOV-style protections as part of WTO-related trade expectations, creating pressure on smaller nations to align with industrial seed systems.

What is the Nagoya Protocol?

The Nagoya Protocol is an international agreement designed to ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources. It attempts to address historical exploitation of Indigenous and Global South biodiversity by pharmaceutical and agricultural corporations.

What is Digital Sequence Information (DSI)?

DSI refers to genetic sequencing data derived from crops and plant varieties. A major debate centers around who owns this information and whether communities that stewarded these crops for generations should share in