THE LETTER
August 20th, 2120 Dear father, First and foremost, I hope that this letter finds you well. Hopefully, Dr. Carl managed to deliver the seed package, attached to this letter. The package contains a bean variety from Central America, it requires very little water and is resistant to strong winds. At this moment, even if you want to share the seeds with others, you mustn’t. It will attract the attention of big corporations, who work in the bioengineering scene. Yours, mine and Dr. Carl’s lives depend on it. Once it’s safer I’ll let you know. I am writing, because calling or messaging you is no longer an option, besides letters are not hackable… Dr. Carl might have told you, but I am no longer in the city. I find myself working, sleeping and eating in the seedbank facilities. I’ve transferred here with 3 biotechnologists and 2 geneticists, all specialized in botanic fields. So, without wanting to bring down its noble aura, I’ve positioned myself in an inherently difficult situation. Due to its unique and diverse seed stock, this seedbank is a target, as it holds the key to prosperity. I’ve managed to obtain some strength of spirit, while reading the words of Nikolai Vavilov: “I really believe deeply in science it is my life, and the purpose of my life. I do not hesitate to give my life for the smallest bit of science.” The world won’t commit the same mistakes. We’ll surpass famine, but ignoring science is consciously distancing from the solution. Let me explain briefly -- species homogeneity keeps increasing and genetically modified seeds fail to fulfill our needs, they are unable to resist fast climate changes or diseases. This has been the cause of the continuous drop in the value of seeds produced by the bioengineering industry. We’ve seen this before, when these seeds were associated with chemical fertilizers, which severely affected the health of the soil. Those who managed and cared for these crops, would be buried in debt or would be afflicted by severe respiratory conditions. Our job is to protect, study and care for a diverse selection of seeds, which would ultimately produce a more resilient set of plants, with the ability to adapt to a rapidly changing environment. As you might imagine the latest, is a parameter of great importance for our survival. In the meantime, feelings of frustration and revolt keep rising in me. We are men and women of science; wars and politics have never been of our particular interest. Somehow, along the way, we forgot we’re part of nature’s cycles. Our position in the natural world was obtained extremely fast, with little to no associated coevolution. Everything can be a threat. But our society can no longer deny that it is built on the diverse genetic pools of the natural world. It just seems that chaos follows well-intentioned people. Now, we are all dependent on those who can understand nature’s ancient scriptures, performing as keystones for saving a great number of human lives and even the entire taxa of the Kingdom Plantae. Once, there was a
human species, able to last 2.5 million years – Homo erectus – our chances of reaching such number have never been so low. World starvation has changed everything, the countries with the vastest collection of seeds became the center of attention and coveted by all. What once was my dream job, is now the start of every nightmare. The protection we have relies on thick and underground walls and four agents of the Peace Corps, which is new for all of us. May history not repeat itself and may we endure these times, under their protection. In the 1940s, Nikolai Vavilov’s team wasn’t so lucky, they were pushed to the breaking point, without ever bending their morals. Only had themselves to protect the seeds. Their contribution is, to this day, of great importance. Standing on the shoulders of giants like Gregor Mendel and Nikolai Vavilov, we wish to fulfill a humanitarian goal using the predictive powers of science. Please, stop yourself from crawling into penumbrous scenarios, we are a small but strong country, the light of reason and science will lead the way. Have faith in me, Your beloved daughter. PS: Plant the seeds, and once they start growing, try to camouflage the sprouts, so satellites won’t detect the increase in plant density. Also, when you finish reading this letter, burn it. ***End***