Abstract
In this article, we expand the analytical and theoretical foundations of the study of knowledge commons in the context of more classical agrarian commons, such as seed commons. We show that it is possible to overcome a number of criticisms of earlier work by Ostrom (Governing the commons. The evolution of institutions for collective action, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1990) on natural commons and its excludability/rivalry matrix in addressing the inclusive social practices of “commoning”, defined as a way of living and acting for the preservation of the commons. Our empirical analysis emphasizes, using the most recent advances in the IAD/SES framework, the distributed and collaborative knowledge governance in a French peasant seed network as a key driver for reintroducing cultivated agrobiodiversity and on-farm seed conservation of ancient and landrace varieties. These inclusive peasant seed groups developed alternative peer-to-peer models of collaborative peasant-led community-based breeding and grassroots innovations in the search for more resilient population varieties. Our results highlight the various models of collective action within the network and discuss the organizational tradeoffs of opting out of peasant seed activities and recreating a shared collective knowledge base on the benefits of restoring cultivated agrobiodiversity. It helps us better understand how modern peasant seed groups function as epistemic communities which contributes to envisioning alternative agricultural systems.
Highlights
We analyze, based on recent theoretical advances on knowledge commons (Hess and Ostrom 2003, 2007; Hess 2012; Frischmann et al 2014), the role of the distributed and collaborative knowledge governance adopted by a French peasant seed network, the “Réseau Semences Paysannes” (RSP) and its “Participatory Wheat Breeding Group”, on small grain cereals
Before analyzing more precisely the various models of collective action and self-governance adopted by the peasant seed groups involved in the PWBG, and comparing two contrasted seed governance models: Pétanielle and Graines de Noé, we describe first some key elements of the institutional and legal contexts that may explain the progressive structuration of peasant seed networks and the specific pathways observed in France compared to other countries
The activities of the RSP, which included more than 90 local seed groups in 2018, were progressively structured into subgroups defined by plant species: small grain cereals, arboriculture, corn and forage crops, vegetables and grapes
Summary
In the European context, peasant seed networks first emerged as a political movement in reaction to the private appropriation of crop genetic diversity by an increasingly concentrated global seed industry and as a means to foster the autonomy of peasants with regard to seed access (Bocci and Chable 2008; Demeulenaere 2014, 2018). Facing restrictive seed laws prohibiting the marketing (including1 3 Vol.:(0123456789)knowledge of peasants with scientific advances in population genetics (Goldringer et al 2012; Rivière et al 2013; Demeulenaere et al 2017).In this article, we analyze, based on recent theoretical advances on knowledge commons (Hess and Ostrom 2003, 2007; Hess 2012; Frischmann et al 2014), the role of the distributed and collaborative knowledge governance adopted by a French peasant seed network, the “Réseau Semences Paysannes” (RSP) and its “Participatory Wheat Breeding Group” (hereafter PWBG), on small grain cereals. Knowledge of peasants with scientific advances in population genetics (Goldringer et al 2012; Rivière et al 2013; Demeulenaere et al 2017). A growing body of literature emphasizes the effects of seed exchanges in and their positive or negative impact on the maintenance of genetic diversity in plant populations and the restoration of cultivated agrobiodiversity (Thomas et al 2011; Pautasso et al 2013; Calvet-Mir et al 2012). In the face of massive collective knowledge and memory loss about landraces and ancient varieties, recreating shared collective knowledge about cultivated agrobiodiversity and its benefits for more sustainable and resilient agriculture was a priority for a number of peasant seed groups (Brac de la Perrière 2014; Lewrouw et al 2014). A better understanding of how local peasant seed communities in Europe support their innovative grassroots activities, the processes of collective knowledge restoration and the models of collective action is still needed
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