Subject: ENB Vol. 9 No. 548 - Fourth Session of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture - Issue #4
FARMERS’ RIGHTS: ETHIOPIA emphasized that farmers’ rights are a cornerstone of the Treaty, and referred delegates to the report of the Global Consultation on Farmers’ Rights (November 2010, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) (IT/GB-4/11/Circ.1), which recommended: sufficient legal space for farmers’ rights within seed and IPR laws; international legislation to avoid misappropriation of traditional knowledge; scaling up of local-level benefit-sharing arrangements; ensuring farmers’ participation in decision making; and capacity-building, financial and technical support. Many delegates welcomed the consultation’s outcomes, while some noted that participation was in a personal capacity and the outcomes were not negotiated. Many highlighted the concept of farmers’ rights as one of the Treaty’s greatest achievements.
MALAWI requested permission for a farmers’ representative to speak before delegates on this issue, but CUBA opposed, urging the GB to follow the rules of procedure.
The ASIAN REGION, supported by many, requested that the GB draft a resolution on the basis of Resolution 6/2009 on farmers’ rights to include, among others, the need to integrate traditional knowledge with scientific knowledge to broaden the PGRFA knowledge base. BRAZIL stressed the need to realize the regional workshops provided for in Resolution 6/2009.
The ASIAN REGION, the NEAR EAST and NORWAY supported creating an ad hoc technical committee on farmers’ rights and sustainable use of PGRFA. The SOUTH WEST PACIFIC expressed concern about proliferation of committees.
The ERG, CANADA and the SOUTH WEST PACIFIC stressed that the responsibility of realizing farmers’ rights rests with national governments. CAMEROON and MADAGASCAR pointed to the need for international action on farmers’ rights in the wake of natural disasters.
