On Friday, April 25, the Bioleft team held a virtual meeting with members of Chile’s Agricultural Development Institute (INDAP), a public agency under the Ministry of Agriculture. The objective of the meeting was to exchange experiences, learn about ongoing initiatives, and explore potential avenues for collaboration.
Participants from INDAP included representatives from the Sustainable Agriculture Transition (TAS) program, as well as from the Chiloé Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (SIPAM) site. This program recognizes and promotes unique agroecosystems sustainably managed by communities that preserve rich agrobiodiversity, traditional knowledge, and ways of life closely tied to the land.
During the meeting, we shared Bioleft’s journey as an open innovation platform for seeds and participatory plant breeding, emphasizing our collaborative and networked approach that combines legal, technological, and community tools to safeguard seeds as commons.
INDAP presented their current lines of work, including support for young farmers, promotion of agroecological experiences through the Center for Education and Technology (CET), and the development of a roadmap to strengthen the Chiloé GIAHS site. Key challenges were also discussed: technological barriers, distrust in institutional processes, and the need to establish participatory governance mechanisms.
The exchange highlighted many shared concerns, such as the importance of rural youth, the need to build trust within communities, and approaches to supporting grassroots transformation processes. It was a valuable initial conversation that opens the door to future collaborations and shared learning.
We continue to cultivate networks that strengthen alternative ways of producing, living, and caring for the land.