Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations  
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

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    The Inventory

    This online version of the Inventory presents, for each measure, the title and a brief description with information on implementing organization(s), start year, objectives, core elements, key outcomes, and, if applicable, lessons learned. It thus allows users to quickly identify those examples that may be of interest to them. A hyperlink to the original submission is provided, which includes additional information, such as on the history and context of the presented measure, challenges encountered, or target groups reached. In this way, users can get a more comprehensive idea of the measure in question and the specific context for which it was developed.
     
    To facilitate navigation, the Inventory is subdivided into eleven categories. Measures or practices that fall under more than one category are listed under each one that applies. Furthermore, information is provided on the type(s) of measures that are typically involved, such as technical, administrative, legal, and/or others, and on the relevant sub-article of Article 9 that is addressed. Additional search options allow searching by country, region, free text and keyword.
     
     
     
     
     
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    Number of records: 233

    166) Ways to implement the farmers’ right to participate in decision-making

    In 2016, a network of five civil society organizations published a study entitled ‘Farmers’ Right to Participate in Decision-making – implementing Article 9.2 (c) of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources’ that gives an overview of how this right of farmers can best be implemented. The objective of the study was to support governments, farmer organizations, civil society organizations and other stakeholders in the implementation of Article 9.2 (c). The study discusses the context and scope of Article 9.2(c) and its importance for the realization of Farmers’ Rights. Using examples and experiences gained, it reviews the status of farmers’ participation in decision-making processes and identifies some of the key issues and challenges. Drawing from norms, principles, good practices and mechanisms that already exist within the United Nations system, especially within the human rights framework, the study also presents key elements for the effective implementation of Article 9.2(c). For example, the right to participate in decision-making should have a solid legal basis and be enforceable by law; requires prompt, effective and practical access to information over process and substance in appropriate form and language; and should include the right to seek a review of a decision and redress/remedies.

    Category: 6.Facilitation of farmers’ access to a diversity of PGRFA through community seed banks, seed networks and other measures improving farmers’ choices of a wider diversity of PGRFA.

    Type of measure/practice: Others

    167) Establishing and promoting Community Seed Banks and exchange networks

    In 2007 the institute for fundamental research in tropical agriculture Instituto de Investigaciones Fundamentales en Agricultura Tropical ‘Alejandro de Humboldt' (INIFAT), together with several other public and non-governmental organizations, established Community Seed Banks (CSBs) as part of broader strategies for agrobiodiversity conservation in Cuba’s Biosphere Reserves. It aims to facilitate farmers' access to seed of a diversity of crops or to function as an emergency seed supply in the case that crops are damaged or destroyed. CSBs allow farmers to access healthy seeds adapted to their local conditions and do not require additional inputs they cannot afford; in addition, CSBs can support farmers who are interested in conserving seeds of traditional varieties or ‘Creole crops’ because of their origin and their cultural importance. The experience made with CSBs also allowed to define ‘duties’ of farmers for the CSBs to function. All this required training in issues related to seed conservation, data recording and cooperation with the central Genebank to create synergies, post-harvest, pest management, and management of agricultural biodiversity in the community.

    Category: 6.Facilitation of farmers’ access to a diversity of PGRFA through community seed banks, seed networks and other measures improving farmers’ choices of a wider diversity of PGRFA.

    Type of measure/practice: Technical

    168) Implementing the ITPGRFA in Italy - The National Programme RGV/FAO

    In 2004, Italy started a specific Programme on the implementation of the ITPGRFA, supporting the conservation activities of the public genebanks. From 2007 onwards, the Italian seed network Rete Semi Rurali (RSR) has also been involved in the Programme, which has the overall aim to promote sustainable use of PGRFA. This Programme supports and recognizes the role of seed networks and farmers' organizations for conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA, while at the same time contributing to the protection and re-creation of traditional knowledge and to the participation of farmers and farmers' networks in policy decision-making. Support to farmers and farmers' networks engaging in sustainable use of PGRFA can further be considered a non-monetary measure for Benefit-Sharing under Article 9 of the IPTGRFA; it contributes to the protection and use of traditional knowledge, promoting social networks and exchange of knowledge among different stakeholders. It also allows to create a policy and institutional framework for involving farmers' networks in the decision-making process. For example, the agreement between RSR and the Ministry of Agriculture on the planned activities includes support to the national delegation on issues related to Articles 6 and 9 of the ITPGRFA.

    Category: 2.Financial contributions to support farmers conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA such as contributions to benefit-sharing funds

    Type of measure/practice: Technical

    169) Ethiopian Seed Law Proclamation No. 782/2013

    In 2013, the Ethiopian government adopted a new seed law, ‘Seed Proclamation 782/2013’, repealing the previous Seed Proclamation 206/2000. The Seed Proclamation 782/2013 remains the current seed legislation in Ethiopia and is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture. This revised seed law provides for certain provisions towards the safeguarding of farmers’ rights. Article 3, which provides for the scope of application, provides the following exceptions: a) the use of farm-saved seed by any person; b) the exchange or sale of farm-saved seed among smallholder farmers of agro-pastoralists; c) seed to be used for research purposes; and d) forestry seed. In regard to the first exception, ‘use’ is not defined in the Proclamation, and the ordinary meaning of the verb use has to be ascribed here, to include; take, hold, or deploy (something) as a means of accomplishing or achieving something; to employ. The current seed law of 2013 provides for much wider safeguards for the possible realisation of farmers’ rights than its predecessor which it replaced. In this revised seed law, specific references are made to small scale farmers and agro-pastoralists, as compared with the previous legislation of 2000.

    Category: 10.Legal measures for the implementation of Farmers’ Rights, such as legislative measures related to PGRFA.

    Type of measure/practice: Legal

    170) Farmers’ Field School on Food Sovereignty to Support Food Self-Sufficiency and Seed Self-Reliance in Villages

    In Indonesia, IAARD and the Directorate General of Food Crops are implementing a program on Farmers’ Field school on food sovereignty in the framework of supporting food and seed self-sufficiency in villages is intended as an effort to increase participants' knowledge regarding the superiority and characters of rice varieties, in addition to techniques for producing, selecting, processing and handling seeds to produce quality seeds. Seed technology transfer to farmers / prospective producers / community-based seed sectors will improve the quality of seeds produced by such groups, improve their knowledge on rice germination processes and procedures, in addition to improving the availability of rice seeds at the development site. IAARD and the Directorate General of Food Crops have worked to develop models, strengthen the capacity of breeders, and to stabilize sustainable seed independence.

    Category: 9.Training, capacity development and public awareness creation

    Type of measure/practice: Technical; Administrative; Others