Fair for the exchange of nowledge: seeds, animals and working tools K’eex ne’ek oób balchee’ob yetel u nuculil meyaj

Abstract

The first Fair for the Exchange of Knowledge took place on April 30, 2011 in the Ecological Agriculture School (Escuela de Agricultura Ecológica, EAE) Uyits’ kan in Maní, Yucatán, which gathered 206 peasants from 14 communities. The different species of plant germplasm, domesticated animals, work tools and processed products were exposed for exchange and/or sale. 232 samples of seeds and reproductive parts of plants belonging to 48 species, and 27 plant families, eight tools, 14 and 26 pet products were registered. Thematic workshops were also conducted, as well as cultural and recreational activities. At the end of this experience there was a conference-debate in which the consequences of the enactment of the Federal Law of Production, Certification and Seed Trade published in the Official Journal of the Federation on June 15, 2007 were analyzed. On the grounds of the proposals, the public document ‘Declaration of Maní’ was issued; in the text considerations are set out on the role of plants’ genetic resources in Mexico, ownership of agricultural seeds and ‘ancient knowledge’. The document includes seven proposals, which were accepted by all signatories as historical commitments to safeguard the cultural and biological heritage of the Maya.