Seed wars: How UK trade deals threaten global south farmers

Published 2024년 8월 1일

Tridge summary

The article highlights the challenges faced by small-scale farmers in the Global South due to strict seed patenting policies and trade deals that favor large agricultural corporations. It explores the case of Tengku Munirwan, a farmer in Indonesia who was imprisoned for selling an uncertified rice seed variety. The article criticizes the monopolization of the seed market and the loss of genetic diversity in favor of high-yield crops. Despite these challenges, the article celebrates the resilience of farmers who continue to prioritize indigenous seed varieties and farmer-managed seed systems. Organizations like Transform Trade are advocating for the exclusion of seed laws from trade agreements and promoting international frameworks that support smallholder farmers and seed genetic diversity. The article also mentions legal actions in Kenya challenging laws that penalize seed sharing and looks for hope in the new UK government's trade strategy.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Fair Planet - 30 July 2024 Seed wars: how UK trade deals threaten global south farmers By Camilla Capasso Since the 1960s, strict seed patenting policies have criminalised small-scale farmers for relying on community exchanges and local seed banks, forcing them to buy commercial seeds. On a Tuesday morning in 2019, farmer and village-head Tengku Munirwan was taken from his village in North Aceh, Indonesia, and put behind bars. He was accused of producing and selling a rice seed variety that the Indonesian government had not officially released to the public. Munirwan had originally received the seed from the provincial government as part of a strategy to improve food security in the region. After several good harvests, the farmer had saved the seeds for the next sowing season and sold the rest. That’s when his troubles began. According to Indonesian law, each seed variety circulating in the country must be released and certified by the government. Farmers are not permitted to ...

Source: Bilaterals