From Commons to Commodities: Seed Regimes Consolidation and Implications to Sustainability Transitions

This article examines the historical and contemporary consolidation of Argentina's seed regime through an integrated lens of socio-technical transitions and political economy. It analyses how regulatory frameworks, technological shifts, and market dynamics have co-evolved to concentrate corporate control over seed governance. Drawing on a qualitative methodology that includes policy analysis, historical documents, and semi-structured interviews, the study identifies technological, institutional, economic, and cognitive lock-in mechanisms that reinforce the commodification of seeds and marginalise alternatives. The concept of ‘contradictory cooperation' is introduced to describe how agrarian unions and multinational firms, despite apparent conflicts, converge in ways that stabilise the regime rather than disrupt it. While corporate governance dominates, initiatives such as the recognition of creole seeds reveal ongoing struggles for seed sovereignty and sustainability. These grassroots alternatives, however, remain constrained by entrenched institutional and economic barriers. The paper combines insights from the Multi-Level Perspective and critical political economy, offering a nuanced critique of the power asymmetries shaping Argentina’s agricultural trajectory. The findings have broader relevance for global seed system governance, highlighting the structural challenges that must be addressed to transition toward more inclusive, diverse, and resilient agri-food systems.