UN expert raises concern over policies marginalizing traditional seed varieties
UN news release, 21 October 2009
NEW YORK, USA: Government policies in many developing countries which promote the planting of a narrow base of agricultural crops may hurt farmers in the long run, warned Olivier de Schutter, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food. Presenting his report on seed policies and the right to food to the General Assembly, the Special Rapporteur noted that there is increasing pressure on farmers to use more uniform, commercial seed varieties, while traditional varieties are being sidelined, leading to loss of agrobiodiversity. He recommended that States: do more to implement farmers’ rights under Article 9 of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, which would provide for protection of traditional resources and for farmers’ participation in decision-making processes; provide funds necessary to support the flourishing of farmers’ seed systems; re-examine their seed regulations to make them more hospitable to traditional farmers’ rights; and develop local seed exchanges. Read the UN news release … Read an IPS article on the issue … Read the report of the Special Rapporter to the General Assembly (doc A/64/170) …
