Advocacy work for the implementation of Farmers' Rights in national laws

Since 1991, Confédération Paysanne, together with Coordination Nationale de Défense des Semences de Ferme (CNDSF), has engaged in advocacy work to defend the right of farmers to use seeds harvested from their own crops; the organization has further mobilized against transgenic crops on many occasions. In 2001, Confédération Paysanne partnered with organic producer associations and CNDSF to establish the Réseau Semences Paysannes (RSP), pooling the resources of organizations that support and develop peasant seeds for farmers’ and gardeners’ use. Confédération Paysanne and RSP have also participated in several European scientific programmes, which aimed, inter alia, at making proposals for legislative measures to protect and develop agrobiodiversity. In 2008, they initiated the civil society movement ‘Semons la biodiversité’ (‘Let’s sow biodiversity’) aiming to amend French national laws where they limit the rights of farmers. This movement has launched numerous public awareness campaigns (educational documents, petitions, public conferences, open farms, etc.), including with activities directly targeting Members of Parliament (e.g. public letters, internet campaigns, etc.). These campaigns have contributed to several achievements in terms of laws and regulations that facilitate, to a certain extent, the sharing and use of farm-saved seed and other planting materials, at the national and European level.