Last Friday, 6th june, a new edition of the Seed Lab Open Day was held in Pitres, organized by the Semillistas Association. This annual event aims to bring science and seed work closer to the general public.
During the day, the laboratory opened its doors to welcome a diverse group of 10 people interested in learning more about the processes we carry out. Among the attendees were members of the association, agricultural workers curious about what happens to seeds before planting, individuals from various parts of the province of Granada who had previously expressed interest in volunteering, as well as professionals and students connected to the sector. We even welcomed a student from the Association’s online course, who traveled from Huelva to visit the lab in person.
The two-hour guided visit was led by Daniel Calatayud, president of the Association and director of the laboratory, who presented in detail the different pieces of equipment that make up the Seed Lab. All the devices have been manually designed and built, following a do-it-yourself philosophy and using open-source technologies, making them replicable by other organizations. Highlights include the conservation chambers, created from modified refrigerators programmed with Arduino systems, a precision oven, a pelletizer built from a repurposed concrete mixer, and the seed drying unit.
In addition to the equipment, the complete journey of the seed—from harvest to planting—was explained. The visit covered both the preparation and conservation processes as well as the research and methodological development work carried out by the lab team.
The day concluded with a space for dialogue and exchange, where participants asked questions, shared concerns, and engaged in conversation with the Seed Lab’s technical team.
We deeply appreciate everyone’s participation and interest. We will continue to promote these kinds of activities that foster knowledge sharing, strengthen connections, and raise awareness about the importance of responsible and community-driven seed stewardship.
