Commons approaches in the seed sector are multi-faceted: They span from traditional seed systems, i.e. seed sharing networks, to recent anti-enclosure movements that resist intellectual property rights on varieties, like organic breeding initiatives. This paper derives a conceptualization of ‘Seed Commons’ at the local and regional level, based on a comprehensive transdisciplinary research process that integrates diverse types of knowledge, both from practitioners (German and Philippine seed initiatives, companies and NGOs), and the scientific community. As a result, we identify four core criteria that characterize diverse Seed Commons arrangements at local and regional scales: (1) collective responsibility, (2) protection from private enclosure, (3) collective, polycentric management, and (4) sharing of formal and practical knowledge. Discussing these Seed Commons criteria in the context of different Commons approaches, we find that Seed Commons transcend the distinction between traditional (natural resource) Commons and New Commons approaches, by integrating biophysical, informational and cultural elements in their collective governance. Reaching beyond resource characteristics, the Seed Commons criteria reflect practices of Commoning, which aim to fulfill social functions such as farmer empowerment and food sovereignty.

中文翻译：

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多样的种子–共同的实践：概念化种子共享

种子领域的共有方法是多方面的：它们从传统的种子系统（即种子共享网络）到最近的反围栏运动，这些运动都抵制了品种的知识产权，例如有机育种计划。本文基于综合的跨学科研究过程，在本地和区域层面上对“种子共同体”进行了概念化，该过程整合了从业者（德国和菲律宾种子计划，公司和非政府组织）以及科学界的各种知识。因此，我们确定了四个核心标准，这些核心标准是地方和地区尺度上不同种子共同体安排的特征：（1）集体责任，（2）保护不受私人庇护，（3）集体，多中心管理以及（4）正式共享和实践知识。在不同的Commons方法背景下讨论这些Seed Commons标准时，我们发现，通过将生物物理，信息和文化要素整合到其集体治理中，Seed Commons超越了传统（自然资源）Commons和New Commons方法之间的区别。种子共有标准超越资源特征，反映了共有实践，旨在履行社会职能，如增强农民权能和粮食主权。