From variety selection practices to ecological justice by Corentin Hecquet, Univ. de Liège - SEED, Belgium

1. Diversifood
Corentin Hecquet 11 dec. 2018
From variety selection practices to
ecological justice

2. 1. Argument
Behind a heterogeneity of
practices there exists a
demand for
Ecological Justice

3. 2. Methodology
• 26 semi-directive interviews
• 3 case studies
Belgium France Brittany
• vegetable seeds

4. 3. Ecological justice
• Justice as a demand
• Goes beyond a liberal theory
• 4 dimensions
– Experimentation
– Recognition
– Participation
– Inclusion of non-humans
Booselman (2008); Schlosberg (2001); Coolsaet
(2016)

5. 4. Problematization
• An injustice experienced
• The tension between the release into
circulation of non- DUS seeds and
“publicization”
à FOCUS : the diversity of
publicization’s forms
• PUBLIC (Dewey 1927)

6. 5. Characterization of the publicisation
• Through the interpersonal relationship
• Through justice
• By the market

7. 5.1 Through the interpersonal
relationship
– Seed sachet = hinge between socio-material and
socio-political manufacture of cultivated
biodiversity
– Cultivated biodiversity =
à Also a socio-material and socio-political
MANUFACTURING

8. 5.2 Publicisation Through justice
• 2 justice trials
• Media coverage
– recognition and support
– the purchase of seeds = an act of resistance,
solidarity
à the failure of trials, social victory

9. 5.3 Publicisation By the market
• Marketing of vegetables labeled "vegetables
from peasant seeds”
• short and long circuit
• Recognition by distributors and consumers

10. 6.1 Cases studies and ecological justice
Semailles Kkopelli Kaol Kozh
experiment By non profesionnal
gardeners
Company, social
economy,
Association
Participatory
research on cabbage
Recognition
Interpersonal
relationships
justice trials Market
participation .. Via RSP Do not ask / disobey .. via RSP
distributors and
eaters
Inclusion of non-
humans
Co-evolution with
plants
Co-evolution with
Mother Earth
Free choice
Identity "old/reginal variety"
seed craftsman
“open pollination” Farmers "farmer
seeds"

11. 6.2 impacts
• Ignored à Tolerance à Recognition
• Questioning the DUS variety as the only
referent

12. 7. Discussion and perspectives
• Ecological justice as the next step?