Biosafety Alliance is pleased to share the program of the 2012 Justice Begins with Seeds International Conference:


9:00 AM
Ceremony by Luis Vasquez-Gomez
Welcome by Miguel Robles Biosafety Alliance

Track 1
Global Voices on Food Sovereignty: Indigenous Perspectives on Seed, International Initiatives and Global Action

9:30-10:00 AM
Facilitators: Katherine Zavala - Karen Swift - Yeshica Weerasekera
Indigenous Voices on Seed and Tradition
Gathuru Mburu: African Food Sovereignty Alliance, Kenya
Lilián Amarilis Guamuch: Afedes, Guatemala
Mpatheleni Makaulule: VhaVenda Nation, South Africa
Luis Magaña: Comite del Maiz Criollo, Stockton


10:00 AM-10.30 AM
International Movement Building
Phrang Roy: Indigenous Partnership for Agrobiodiversity and Food Sovereignty, India
Adelita San Vicente: Semillas de Vida; “Sin Maiz no hay Pais”. Mexico, Mexico
Mariama Sonko: Association of Young Farmers of Casamance, Senegal
Martin Gomez Sanchez: Centro Agropecuario para el Desarrollo Rural, Mexico


10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Global Strategies to Rio+20
Liz Hosken: GAIA Foundation UK
Victor Mennoti: International Forum on Globalization
Jeff Conant: Global Justice Ecology Project
Laetitia Mailhes: Nourish 9 Billion


15 min Break


TRACK 2: The Right to Know GE Food: Multilevel Campaigns--Organizing from the grassroots to the corporate shareholders

11:15 - 11:45 AM Facilitators: Malin Alegria – Frank Plughof
What is happening federally
Rebecca Spector, Center for Food Safety
Devika Ghai, Pesticide Action Network
Dave Murphy, Food Democracy Now
11:45 AM - 12:15 PM
Media and Strategy
Robin Carpenter, Writer and Journalist
Karen Swift, Biosafety Alliance
Andrew Behar: As you Sow

12:15 PM - 12:45 PM
Local Movements
Pamm Larry, Label GMOs, California
Chris Hardy, Jackson County Oregon
Sabrina Siegel, GMO Free Oregon
Ronnie Cummins, Organic Consumer Association


12.45-1.30 PM Lunch Break


TRACK 3: Food Sovereignty and Sustainability: Stories of Success--growing local food economies

1:30 - 2:00 PM Facilitators: Dana Perls – Miguel Robles
Cooperatives & Food Business
Mr. Tezozomoc, South Central Farmers Cooperative
Yoni Landau COFED
Caryl Levine, Lotus Foods
Dana Harvey: Mandela Marketplace

2:00 - 2:30 PM
Stories from sustainable farmers
Joe Morris, Morris Ranch
Maria Catalan, Catalan Farms
Rev Roosevelt Tarlesson: Tarlesson Farms

2:30 - 3:00 PM
Investing in Sustainable Business
Theo Ferguson, Slow Money
Scott Hackenberg, RSF Social Finance
Aileen Suzara, Pie Ranch


15 Min Break


TRACK 4: Occupy the Food System from the Field to the Backyard and 2012 Farm Bill Implications.

3:15 - 3:45 PM Facilitators: Antonio Roman Alcala - Kay Cuajunco - Võ Hải
Urban Grassroots
Community action and Cross Sector Organizing
Barb Finn: City Slicker Farms
Gavin or Haleh, Planting Justice
Kelly Carlisle: Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project
Ann Lopez: Center for Farmworker Familes
Esperanza Pallana: East Bay Urban Agriculture Alliance

3:45 - 4:15 PM
Bridging the Gaps: The intersection between food access and community organizing
Katie Cantrell: Coalition to Fight Factory Farming
Maya Salsedo: Rooted in Community
Doria Robinson: Urban Tilth
Dana Frasz: Food Shift

4:15 - 4:45 PM
Farm Bill 2012 Global implications
Armando Nieto: California Food Justice Coalition
Adam Scow: Food and Water Watch
Christopher Cook: Author and Journalist
Navina Khana: Live Real