UN Experts Warn on Global Food Supply and Farmer Seed Systems
UN experts have called on governments, stating that laws criminalizing traditional farmer seed systems jeopardize global food security.
United Nations human rights experts have announced that laws criminalizing the sale and exchange of traditional farmer seed systems threaten the global food supply. In a report submitted to the Human Rights Council, the protection of rural farmers' rights and an end to prosecutions were demanded.
The Importance of Traditional Seed Systems
In its latest report, the United Nations Working Group on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas emphasized that nearly all of the world's food is derived from seeds.
It was stated that 70 to 90 percent of the seeds planted in many countries are provided by traditional systems, which supports food security.
Prosecutions and Legal Pressures
Working Group Chair Shalmali Guttal stated that traditional seed systems should be celebrated rather than prosecuted, noting that farmers protect nature.
Over time, commercial seed systems and plant variety protection laws have penalized farmers and targeted seeds that do not conform to industrial standards.
Intellectual Property and Heavy Penalties
It was noted that violations of these laws are treated as industrial or intellectual property crimes and are on the rise.
It was reported that countries such as Ghana and Japan prescribe heavy fines and prison sentences of up to 15 years for unauthorized seed sales or rights violations.
Industrial Monopolies and International Role
Experts stated that the intense monopoly controlling the industrial seed system increases costs for rural farmers and restricts access.
The report stated that the World Bank strengthens this monopoly structure and private sector participation through its investments in commercial agricultural enterprises.
Calls on States
United Nations experts demanded that states integrate Article 19 of UNDROP, which regulates the right to seeds, into their national laws.
It was reiterated that farmer seed practices must be decriminalized and traditional systems must be exempted from industrial market rules.