ORC’s Julia Cooper attended the 15th edition of the Let’s Liberate Diversity! Forum from May 23 to 25, 2026, held in conjunction with the 5th edition of the 72 Hours of Biodiversity organised by Rete Semi Rurali, Italy. The Forum, held at venues including the Castello dell’Acciaiolo and the headquarters of Rete Semi Rurali in Scandicci near Florence, brought together farmers, breeders, researchers, seed networks, and policymakers from across Europe.
The European Coordination Let’s Liberate Diversity! (ECLLD) is an international nonprofit organisation dedicated to the dynamic management of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. Their core belief is that the diversification of our food systems can be achieved through the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders involved in cultivated biodiversity.
This is right up ORC’s street – the three key elements of our research approach are diversification, integration and participation.
Three days of workshops, exchanges, a farmers’ market, tastings, live music, and theatre, all dedicated to cultivated biodiversity. Lots of food, discussion, wine and relaxation in the Tuscan sunshine!
The Horizon Europe project LiveSeeding presented a series of sessions sharing key outcomes and reflections emerging from the project as it comes to a close. These sessions focused in particular on local food policy, the right to food, and living labs in relation to organic breeding and agroecological transitions.
Our work with Charlotte Bickler and UK Grain Lab aligns closely with the theme on how local food policies can promote cultivated biodiversity (and vice versa!). A take home message from LiveSeeding partner ProSpeciesRara: “there can be no regional crop diversity without local seed selection and production at the bioregional level”.
A particular highlight was the Let’s Liberate Diversity field trip where we joined with the EU COUSIN project (on crop wild relatives) to visit Azienda Agricola Floriddia. Hosted by the amazing Rosario we toured the research plots. There Ambrogio Costanza (late of this parish) facilitated a hands on tour of the plots, involving everyone in participatory evaluation of crop wild relatives of wheat as well as wheat crosses with wild relatives.
After a delicious lunch Rosario showed us his grain store, mill and pasta production. He shared his knowledge on organic farming and nutrition engaging and inspiring us to support local food chains and local farmers.
Many thanks to the LiveSeeding Project and a big shout out to Reti Semi Rurale who did a fantastic job hosting the event.
