On Saturday, April 25, Bioleft held a field gathering with the aim of visiting the trial of the open-pollinated variety Originales 24, led by Enrico Cresta through participatory breeding with Bioleft
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During the visit to the Experimental Station in Rancagua, Pergamino, participants were able to tour the trial and observe the characteristics of this variety firsthand. The setting provided an opportunity to open a dialogue around the strengths offered by heterogeneous population seeds, especially regarding adaptability and resilience under variable conditions—key aspects for agroecological production systems.
In addition, the development journey of the variety was shared: its history, the selection criteria used, and the current registration process before INASE, fostering an enriching exchange among farmers, technicians, and specialists in plant breeding and genetics.
Likewise, Alfredo presented a new proposal promoted by Bioleft, which seeks to expand collaboration among farmers, researchers, and genebanks. This initiative aims to boost the emergence of new participatory plant breeding experiences, fostering alternative seed sources that respond to the growing need for diversity, availability, and adaptation to climate change.
During the presentation, Florencia shared the new version of the Bioleft Platform , marking the start of its rollout to the public. The initial goal is to strengthen the community and provide an alternative for offering and requesting seeds. During the discussion, attendees addressed the visibility benefits for nearby farmers offering seeds, as well as opening up the possibility for small seed producers to be part of the supply.
The day was an opportunity for knowledge sharing. Experiences, concerns, and perspectives were shared, mapping out potential joint lines of work aimed at strengthening access to biodiverse seeds and adaptation to different production contexts. Leveraging the presence of various technical leaders, coordination opportunities were promoted to facilitate germplasm exchange and advance the development of new varieties through participatory approaches.
If you are interested in being part of the maize growers' network at Bioleft, write to us at bioleft@unsam.edu.ar