Watch Seeds of Time

Seeds of Time is a documentary film directed by Sandy McLeod that explores the urgent need for global seed conservation and the efforts of several experts to protect our planet's agricultural heritage. The film is inspired by the works of agricultural pioneer Cary Fowler, who has been advocating for the preservation of agricultural biodiversity around the world for several decades.

The documentary follows Fowler and his team at the Global Crop Diversity Trust, a non-profit organization founded in 2004 to protect the world's most important crop collections from natural disasters, conflict, and development. The film showcases their efforts to preserve the collections of seed banks across the globe, including the Svalbard Seed Vault in Norway, a facility that ensures that there is always a backup of crop varieties in the event of a catastrophic loss.

Through interviews with industry experts, policymakers, and farmers, the film highlights the threats to global food security posed by climate change, population growth, and the loss of crop diversity. The film notes that plant breeders and geneticists have been working for decades to improve crop yields by using conventional breeding techniques and developing new genetic technologies, but these efforts are ultimately futile without the requisite genetic diversity that aggressive monoculture and industrial agriculture practices have contributed to the loss of.

The documentary focuses on crop diversity in developing countries and the struggles of family farmers to preserve agricultural biodiversity. The film showcases the work of the International Potato Center (CIP), a research institution based in Peru, which is focused on breeding new varieties of potatoes and preserving existing ones. The film also features the efforts of American farmer Bill McDorman, who has dedicated his life to the preservation of heirloom seeds and the education of younger generations on the importance of seed diversity.

Seeds of Time establishes that the world depends on these farmers' work to conserve seeds and genetic diversity. The film portrays their daily struggle and the hope they have on the restoration of biodiversity in humanity's food systems, the survival of traditional crops, and the possibility of a sustainable future. McDorman is especially optimistic about shifting the focus of the seed industry from genetically modified plants to locally adapted, heritage varieties. He notes that diverse crop varieties can help support resilient, diverse ecosystems, protect against insect and fungus attacks, and adapt to changing environments.

Another major theme of the film is the power and importance of community building and collaboration to enable those seed-saving efforts. Seed saving networks in different parts of the world were highlighted, and the role of organizations that encourage citizens to save and share seeds, such as the Seed Savers Exchange in the United States and Navdanya in India. The Seed Savers Exchange, considered the leading organization dedicated to this work in the United States, has over 13,000 members, and together they have preserved more than 25,000 varieties of seeds.

In terms of cinematography, the film features stunning views of the Peruvian mountaintops where CIP is located and footage of the Svalbard Seed Vault. The documentary is well-paced, informative, and compelling. The film's focus on global agriculture and the importance of crop diversity is timely, and it is presented in a digestible way, making it accessible to viewers interested in the subject.

Seeds of Time is an important work of environmental advocacy and a compelling documentary that highlights the urgent need to protect and celebrate the diversity of life on our planet. It offers a holistic solution to the global food security problem and shows a bright path forward for the world's agricultural heritage. The movie is a call for grassroots action and political engagement that will shape a world that is both sustainable and equitable for future generations.

Seeds of Time is a 2015 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 17 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4 and a MetaScore of 59.