This book addresses the issues of how, what, and where to store the range of genetic materials necessary to reproduce plants. By examining the experiences of Brazil, Chile, France and the US, the authors show how different cultures respond to the decline in genetic diversity. The findings show that the quest for uniformity in foods, agriculture, and environment eventually threatens everyone and that only by relinking food with agriculture and the environment, revaluing traditional knowledge, rethinking development, and democritising scientific and technical change can answers be found.