Crop diversity has been in rapid decline for the last 100 years, particularly when it comes to grains grown in the UK. Where we once had a patchwork of regionally-specific grains grown across the country, arable fields are becoming increasingly homogenised in favour of supposedly high-performing modern breeds.

The Gaia Foundation’s Seed Sovereignty Programme is working to support a diverse and resilient seed system and will chair this session around the question “How can we support the growing of genetically-diverse grains by supporting diversity at every level of the grain supply chain?” Panellists will represent diverse elements of the grain chain from seed to plate.