Editing Seed saving (section)

{{short description|Practice of saving plant reproductive material}}
[[File:PopcornPartiallyShelled2007.jpg|thumb|right|Partially shelled [[popcorn]] seed saved for planting]]
In [[agriculture]] and [[gardening]], '''seed saving''' (sometimes known as '''brown bagging''')<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.americanfarm.com/publications/the-delmarva-farmer/special-sections/1821-monsanto-farmers-permitted-to-brown-bag-seeds|author=Bruce Hotchkiss|title=Monsanto: Farmers permitted to 'brown bag' seeds|publisher=American Farm Publications, Inc.|year=2012|access-date=2013-06-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101205450/http://www.americanfarm.com/publications/the-delmarva-farmer/special-sections/1821-monsanto-farmers-permitted-to-brown-bag-seeds|archive-date=2014-11-01|url-status=dead}}</ref> is the practice of saving seeds or other reproductive material (e.g. [[tuber]]s, [[Grafting|scions]], [[Cutting (plant)|cuttings]]) from [[vegetable]]s, [[grain]], [[herb]]s, and [[flower]]s for use from year to year for annuals and [[Nut (fruit)|nuts]], [[Fruit|tree fruits]], and [[Berry|berries]] for perennials and trees.<ref name="Mechlem">{{cite book
|title=Biotechnologies and International Human Rights
|url=https://archive.org/details/biotechnologiesi00libg
|url-access=limited
|chapter=Agricultural Technology and the Right to Food
|author=Kerstin Mechlem and Terry Raney
|editor=Francesco Francioni
|page=[https://archive.org/details/biotechnologiesi00libg/page/n191 156]
|year=2007
|publisher=Hart Publishing
|isbn=978-1-84113-703-2}}</ref>  This is the [[tradition]]al way [[farm]]s and [[garden]]s were maintained for the last 12,000 years (see [[Neolithic Revolution#Agricultural transition|first agricultural revolution]]).

In recent decades, beginning in the latter part of the 20th century, there has been a major shift to purchasing seed annually from commercial seed suppliers. Most farmers regard seed saving as a risky practice. If farmers do not sanitize their seed, this can result in significant pest or disease damage when the saved seed is planted.<ref name="p676">{{cite web | title=Late Blight | website=Wisconsin Horticulture | date=2017-06-16 | url=https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/late-blight/ | access-date=2024-06-23 | archive-date=2024-09-10 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240910035315/https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/late-blight/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="e839">{{cite web | last=Professor | first=Associate Research | title=Avoiding Viruses in Small Grain Crops | website=Penn State Extension | date=2022-08-31 | url=https://extension.psu.edu/avoiding-viruses-in-small-grain-crops | access-date=2024-06-23 | archive-date=2024-06-23 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240623164718/https://extension.psu.edu/avoiding-viruses-in-small-grain-crops | url-status=live }}</ref> Other reasons farmers generally do not save seed include [[inbreeding depression]] and certain plants not growing [[Open pollination|true to seed]]. Many commercial varieties exhibit high degrees of [[Heterosis|hybrid vigour]], and will generally outperform any saved seed in a commercial context; as such vigour is the result of specific and careful genetic research and modification by humans, those desirable traits are almost always diminished in future generations. Additionally, many seeds are proprietary, making it illegal for buyers to save them after harvest for future planting.<ref name="v362">{{cite web | last=Folta | first=Kevin | title=UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department | website=UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department | date=2023-11-05 | url=https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/hortsciencesdept/2023/11/05/avoiding-the-heartbreaks-of-seed-saving/ | access-date=2024-06-23 | archive-date=2024-06-23 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240623164719/https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/hortsciencesdept/2023/11/05/avoiding-the-heartbreaks-of-seed-saving/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="h614">{{cite web | title=Does Monsanto sue farmers who save patented seeds or mistakenly grow GMOs? | website=Genetic Literacy Project | date=2021-09-20 | url=https://geneticliteracyproject.org/gmo-faq/does-monsanto-sue-farmers-who-save-patented-seeds-or-mistakenly-grow-gmos/ | access-date=2024-06-23 | archive-date=2024-06-23 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240623164719/https://geneticliteracyproject.org/gmo-faq/does-monsanto-sue-farmers-who-save-patented-seeds-or-mistakenly-grow-gmos/ | url-status=live }}</ref> 

Nonetheless a significant number of farmers (especially [[smallholding|small holders]]) continue to save some seed, whether out of habit, personal interest, or commercial interest.<ref name="v166">{{cite journal | last=McGuire | first=Shawn | last2=Sperling | first2=Louise | title=Seed systems smallholder farmers use | journal=Food Security | volume=8 | issue=1 | date=2016 | issn=1876-4517 | doi=10.1007/s12571-015-0528-8 | pages=179–195| doi-access=free }}</ref> Much [[grassroots]] seed-saving activity today in the developed world is the work of home gardeners. Saving seeds protects [[biodiversity]] and saves money for consumer gardeners.<ref name="k288">{{cite web | last=Swee | first=Becky | title=Why Save Seeds | website=Minnesota State Horticultural Society | date=2022-08-20 | url=https://northerngardener.org/why-save-seeds/ | access-date=2024-06-23 | archive-date=2024-06-23 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240623165833/https://northerngardener.org/why-save-seeds/ | url-status=live }}</ref>