Climavore and LUMEN at the Museum of Civilizations in Rome: a dialogue between art, seeds, and rights

On May 21 and 22, the project Climavore x Jameel at RCA, a partner of LUMEN, inaugurated a new installation at the Museum of Civilizations in Rome, titled Rights to Seeds, Rights of Seeds, dedicated to the preservation and circulation of ancient and local seeds. The event served as an important moment of reflection and discussion on the cultural, environmental, and social value of traditional seeds—not only as genetic heritage but as living elements of connection between agriculture, territories, and communities.

On the occasion of the inauguration, a meeting was held between members of the LUMEN project and a group of farmers, with in-person participation by Silvia Bagni and Amilcare D’Andrea (research unit at the University of Bologna), and Roberto Louvin (research unit at the University of Trieste) joining remotely. The discussion focused on proposed amendments to two regional laws—one in Apulia on the protection of native genetic resources, and one in Sicily on agroecology—developed within the Model Law workshop of the LUMEN project.

The proposed amendments aim to recognize and strengthen the role of peasant farming as an integrated and co-evolving agro-ecosystem, positioning the free circulation of seeds among local farmers as a key condition for the regeneration and continuity of agricultural life. The dialogue among experts, researchers, and farmers highlighted the urgency of a legal framework that values traditional agricultural practices and biodiversity, restoring seeds to their central role in the ecological, cultural, and social processes of local territories.