25/11/2024
The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (International Treaty), in collaboration with the CGIAR Initiative on Genebanks and the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT), held a special online event, Understanding Farmers’ Rights, focusing on the central role of farmers in safeguarding the biodiversity of our food crops and ensuring global food security. The innovations of smallholder farmers form the foundation of modern plant breeding and agriculture, highlighting the need to acknowledge and promote their contributions to biodiversity conservation and cultivating resilient food systems, as well as the need to protect their rights.
Given that farmers are responsible for developing and preserving crop genetic diversity in the field, protecting their rights is crucial if they are to maintain their pivotal role and contributions to global food security.
“Farmers are at the core of plant genetic resource conservation,” said International Treaty Secretary Kent Nnadozie, in his opening remarks. “They are not just custodians of crop varieties, but also innovators who have contributed to the development of the different varieties of crops we rely on today for our food and agricultural production,” he added.
The event brought together almost 200 participants from around the world, including representatives from civil society organizations and farming communities, policymakers, researchers, and international organizations. Seven esteemed speakers, primarily from civil society organizations, shared their knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned to amplify the voices of farmers.
“We, the farmers of the peasant community, work day and night for the protection and safeguarding of our common heritage, through our practices, our knowledge, our habits and customs,” said Alimata Traore, a women’s leader and farmer from Mali. “We bring agriculture to life in its diversity and in its sustainable development for the maintenance of health, the economy, and for the protection of the environment,” she said.
Participants explored options for implementing Farmers’ Rights, a cornerstone of the International Treaty, and engaged in meaningful discussions about possible ways to overcome the obstacles that hinder their full realization.
This unique event centered on empowering farmers and ensuring that their contributions to conserving and utilizing plant genetic resources are fully acknowledged. By focusing on civil society perspectives, a step was taken towards bridging the gap between policy and practice. Speakers drew attention to innovative practices that have empowered farming communities worldwide, such as ways to build on traditional knowledge.
Andrew Mushita of the Community Technology Development Organisation pointed out that “promoting food sovereignty, culture and cultural diversity as elements in the management of PGRFA (plant genetic resources for food and agriculture) strengthens local capacities and empowerment measures towards the realization of Farmers’ Rights.”
The event showcased the International Treaty's commitment to advancing Farmers’ Rights and fostering inclusive dialogue among stakeholders, emphasizing the critical importance of supporting the custodians of our crop diversity.
The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture is the first legally binding international agreement to explicitly acknowledge the enormous contribution of smallholder farmers and indigenous and local communities in managing the crops that feed the world. Article 9 of the International Treaty is devoted to the protection and promotion of Farmers’ Rights.
#ItAllStartsWithTheSeed
#farmers #FoodSecurity #FarmersRights
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