For tens of thousands of years humankind has been self-sufficient when it comes to food production. Agriculture and farming played an integral role in the everyday lives of countless generations. However, the industrial revolution and modern farming techniques have almost wiped out traditional farming in the developed, and increasingly in the developing world. The rapid rise of huge biochemical and biotech companies, hybrid crops and GMOs have resulted in 94% of seed varieties being lost.
This is the driving force behind Taggart Siegel and Jon Betz’s documentary SEED: The Untold Story. In many ways it’s a call to action to tackle the increasingly worrying lack of diversity in our crops. Genetic modification is leaving our food sources increasingly susceptible to disease whilst at the same time they’re not producing seeds to use again; leaving farmers reliant on the chemical companies which control the seed distribution and in the lap of the gods when it comes to harvests.
In SEED: The Untold Story scientists, family farmers, tribal leaders and botanical explorers raise the battle cry against the agri-tech chemical companies. Along with a great love, devotion and veneration for seeds, what comes across most is the warning that we’re in serious danger of committing mass suicide on a global scale. Whoever owns the food and food production holds the power and America is already in sway of large unaccountable conglomerates.
SEED: The Untold Story screens at Sheffield Doc/Fest.
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