A sacred seed vault in Guatemala aims to help rural communities fight climate change and commercialization.
The organisation, which supports nearly 70 seed banks in the Central American country, confirmed that funding from Irish Aid and training from Irish charity group Trócaire are helping their efforts.
Guatemala is experiencing hotter, drier seasons and more destructive weather events due to climate change.
The agroecological gardens in Rabinal hope that the local seed bank and other initiatives will help rural communities cope with more extreme conditions, alongside the genetically modified seeds produced by large corporations.
In a small room with locked doors filled with red brick shelves and clay pots, Cristobal Osorio Sanchez described how the organization he founded distributes native plant seeds to other communities.
Holding a sprig of mint behind his ear, he said there were 50 varieties stored in the Seed House, as well as staple grains elsewhere.
“Seed plays a key role in our lives,” said Mr Osorio Sanchez, 69, founder of Qachuu Aloom.
“The biggest threat in our country is the risk to our own seeds.
“We are here to protect our local seeds because we see that they provide food that can resist diseases.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
