Mr. Seed cartoon character

Can a Trash-Talking Seed Get People to Care about Consolidation in Agriculture?

A campaign aiming to prevent further consolidation of the seed industry has a new spokesperson. Meet Mr. Seed, a foul-mouthed organic cartoon character that decries the agrochemical industry’s control of seed.

In the space of 4 minutes and 22 seconds, Mr. Seed’s bleep-filled tirade mocks the chemical dependency—and virility—of modern seed, touts the vigor of organic seeds’ tougher roots, and delights in field-based breeding tips he reads aloud from the “Kama Seedra.”

June 7, 2016 | Source: Civil Eats | by Virginia Gewin

A campaign aiming to prevent further consolidation of the seed industry has a new spokesperson. Meet Mr. Seed, a foul-mouthed organic cartoon character that decries the agrochemical industry’s control of seed.

In the space of 4 minutes and 22 seconds, Mr. Seed’s bleep-filled tirade mocks the chemical dependency—and virility—of modern seed, touts the vigor of organic seeds’ tougher roots, and delights in field-based breeding tips he reads aloud from the “Kama Seedra.”

“The video challenges the myth that giant agrochemical companies are feeding the world,” says Matthew Dillon, director of Seed Matters, an initiative of the Clif Bar Family Foundation (CBFF), based in Emeryville, California. In fact, Mr. Seed physically destroys that message in the edgy animation, released today.

Dillon hopes the video goes viral, accomplishing two goals. CBFF wants to start a conversation about both the importance of plant breeding and seed—and the consequences of a seed industry largely controlled by agrochemical companies.

Secondly, viewers will be steered to the Seed Matters website where they can sign on to a letter requesting that the Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) block pending and future mergers of the seed industry. The letter makes the case that more, not less, diversified approaches to crop improvement are needed for food security.