This Seeds and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) working group tackles the spread of seed privatisation, from regulations prioritising commercial seeds and permitting deregulation of GMOs, to intellectual property systems such as seed patents, the UPOV convention, etc. These policies violate peasants’ rights to seeds and destroy their seed autonomy, and as a consequence, their right to food sovereignty.
The Seeds and GMOs working group also aims to protect and promote farmers’ knowledge and expertise by demanding the legal recognition of farmers’ seed systems, which are criminalised both in Europe and internationally by regulatory frameworks that only recognise commercial seed systems.
The working group’s activities consist of virtual meetings, in-person meetings, participation in several coalitions of organisations at EU level, advocacy and institutional activities. We also produce analyses and positions and organise mobilisations at both the EU level, and also within several international processes (UPOV, CBD, etc).
Contact information
Coordinating committee members
Alessandra Cascina Malerbe
IT, EN, FR
Tove Sundström
EN, SV
seeds@eurovia.org
Cloé Mathurin
EN, ES, FR
Policy Officer
cloe@eurovia.org
