Seeds unearthed: a dramatic history and uncertain future

 The filmmakers travel to Africa, India, Mexico, Hawaii, places where indigenous people have grown food for millennia.Everywhere, ancient agricultural cultures are under threat from mass farming and its tools – monocultures, pesticides, patents and genetic modification. And an aggressive corporate style that makes small farming unviable.In India, thousands of farmers have committed suicide because they are unable to grow the crops to feed their family.In Hawaii, Monsanto’s test fields are next door to a school, with the spray drifting across the playground.Around the world, the commercialisation of agriculture has significantly reduced genetic diversity; with the loss of 94{2d21a4a9683bc94918ce162a303f79ec6279346f8d3ed98fae4e2de9d77bf083} of our seed varieties in the last century.SEED: The Untold Story presents a stark contrast between those who revere and celebrate nature, and those who attempt to dominate it.This feature-length documentary follows the story of passionate seed keepers – indigenous groups and other concerned collectives – who are fighting to preserve this miraculous form of life for future generations.It presents a powerful message that is underpinned by a strong sense of community spirit, and it ignites a desire to rekindle a lost connection to seeds.It is a dramatic story that will leave you questioning: can you patent nature?Jon Betz and Taggart Siegel are experienced directors of award winning documentaries, including Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us (2010) and The Real Dirt on Farmer John (2006).SEED: The Untold Story will screen at the Byron Bay International Film Festival on Saturday October 15th at 1pm & Thursday October 20th at 5pm at the Byron Community Centre. – Michelle Steel