Peoples of Mesoamerica in defense of seeds and maize

Published Jun 7, 2024

Tridge summary

The Mesoamerican Meeting in Defence of Maize and Seeds was held in Cartago, Costa Rica, bringing together peasant farmers from various countries to discuss the threat of UPOV laws and neoliberal policies to the autonomy and sovereignty of peasant and indigenous communities over their seeds and agrobiodiversity. The meeting highlighted the dangers of UPOV 91, which could lead to the privatization of seeds and corporate control, threatening food sovereignty and agrobiodiversity. The meeting also emphasized the importance of strategic alliances, education, and awareness-raising on seed use and conservation. The declaration concluded with 21 points outlining the communities' stance against these threats and their commitment to their own systems of health, education, and justice.

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Original content

GRAIN | 6 June 2024 Peoples of Mesoamerica in defence of seeds and maize Between 11 and 13 April 2024, the Mesoamerican Meeting in Defence of Maize and Seeds was held in Cartago, Costa Rica, attended by peasant farmers from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Colombia and Ecuador. Although the latter two countries are not included in the geographical region of Mesoamerica, the importance of seeds and of maize as an ancestral crop meant that representatives from these countries were also invited to take part. This call for the defence of maize and all peasant seeds comes amid increasing pressure to impose the so-called UPOV laws through trade agreements and other neoliberal policies throughout the region. Today, corporations and governments are attempting to impose the most recent version of the UPOV convention, from 1991, which represents a direct threat to the autonomy and sovereignty of peasant and indigenous peoples over their seeds and ...

Source: Bilaterals