Over the first in-person GOSSI meeting, and in line with the agreements reached among the differents organizations within the network, Bioleft, MASIPAG, Semi Rurali Rete, Seed Savers Network, Agroecol and Let’s Liberate Diversity advanced in a model to define a participatory tomato breeding program. The goal is to assess and achieve compatibility among different open-source seed systems.
Some of the common challenges include:
- Drought tolerance
- Resistance to Phytophthora infestans
- Formalities for releasing cultivars and being able to sell seeds
- Training for participatory plant breeding
To address these challenges, each initiative will conduct trials during the upcoming campaign to evaluate their own genotypes, comparing them with those of other initiatives.