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The International Undertaking and Genetic Resource Governance

The International Undertaking and Genetic Resource Governance. Patrick Mulvany ITDG RSPB, Chatham House Monday 8th October 2001. The International Undertaking and Genetic Resource Governance. Farmers should be the primary interest group that participates in all negotiations

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The International Undertaking and Genetic Resource Governance

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  1. The International Undertaking and Genetic Resource Governance Patrick Mulvany ITDG RSPB, Chatham House Monday 8th October 2001

  2. The International Undertaking and Genetic Resource Governance Farmers should be the primary interest group that participates in all negotiations Zimbabwean Farmers opened the International Seed Fair at CBD/COP V in Nairobi, May 2001

  3. The International Undertaking and Genetic Resource Governance • Agricultural Biodiversity and Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (GRFA) • International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources • Genetic Resource Governance

  4. Agricultural Biodiversity and GRFA COP V lobby

  5. Agricultural Biodiversity and GRFA • genetic resources, varieties, breeds and sub-species used for food and agriculture • diversity of species that support production - soil biota, pollinators, predators &c • species in the wider environment that support diverse agroecosystems - agricultural, pastoral, forest and aquatic ecosystems • Developed by Farmers

  6. Agricultural Biodiversity and GRFA • Agricultural Biodiversity encompasses "the variety and variability of animals, plants and micro-organisms which are necessary to sustain key functions of the agroecosystem, its structure and processes for, and in support of, food production and food security" (FAO, 1999)

  7. Agricultural Biodiversity and GRFA • Nairobi Final Act - revise IU • SBSTTA • Leipzig Global Plan of Action on PGRFA • COP3 • World Food Summit: Commitment 3 • FAO Workshops on Agricultural Biodiversity • Global Strategy for the Management of Farm Animal Genetic Resources • COPs 4,5 • PoW on Agricultural Biodiversity with FAO

  8. International Undertakingon Plant Genetic Resources • Protect the rapidly eroding genetic resources which underpin global and local food security • Keep these genetic resources in the public domain and facilitate access • Ensure the implementation of Farmers’ Rights • Ensure farmers receive a reasonable share of the benefits from the commercial use of these resources

  9. International UndertakingCSO evaluation criteria • fair - a level playing field on access rules without any threat of privatisation and biopiracy… full implementation of Farmers’ Rights • equitable - provide reasonable benefits to poor farming communities in developing countries, commensurate with value of PGRFA, and • comprehensive - contain a full list of the crops and forages that are vital for food security and interdependence.

  10. International UndertakingWho’ll Own the Seeds of Life

  11. International Undertaking CSO Campaign on the IU • CSOs have kept up consistent pressure • Press coverage • Sign-on letters • Briefing papers • Web reports

  12. http://www.ukabc.org

  13. International UndertakingOutstanding Problems • the exclusion of the genetic resources covered by the IU from IPRs, keeping the resources in the public domain • the relationship between the IU and other international agreements, most notably the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) • the food crops, forages and their 'wild' relatives that are to be included in the IU

  14. International UndertakingCentral to Governance GEF CGIAR FAO CBD IU WIPO UPOV WTO INTERNATIONAL UNDERTAKINGON PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES [FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE]

  15. Perverse Policies • GMOs and genetic pollution • GURTs especially Terminator technologies • Promoting WTO rules that reduce local options for sustaining diversity • Failing to implement a substantive review of WTO/TRIPs Article 27.3(b) on life patents • Tolerating widespread patent abuse and biopiracy • Concentration of Corporate Power

  16. Genetic Resource Governance Farmers: providing food & stewardship of the environment Farmers are key to the management of the environment as well as providers of food security

  17. Genetic Resource Governance Farmers: defending the global commons Farmers have concerns about access and control to the genetic resources they require for common good tasks: providing food and biological and ecological services

  18. Genetic Resource Governance Farmers Rights Farmers have inalienable Rights to the resources, including seeds, they have developed, nurtured and manage on behalf of humanity

  19. Genetic Resource Governance Farmers Rights Farmers’ Rights are a “fundamental pre-requisite to the conservation and sustainable utilisation of agricultural biodiversity”CSO Forum at World Food Summit, 1996 Jane Kiriamba Tharaka, Kenya

  20. Genetic Resource Governance Farmers’ Solutions • Gikingo Seed FairKenya

  21. Genetic Resource Governance 2001/2002 agenda • Nov 2001 FAO Council and Conference & WFS+5 • WTO Ministerial + New AoA? • Dec 2001 WIPO Intergovernmental committee on intellectual property and genetic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore • April 2002 COP VI • Sept 2002 WSSD, Johannesburg

  22. Genetic Resource Governance Final Thoughts • Sovereignty and free flow of GRFA? • Agricultural biodiversity development incompatible with private ownership? • Can institutions recognise imperative of local farming communities contribution? • Is governance of (agro)ecosystems THE issue - can this be mainstreamed? • Sustainable Development themes: Cultural, Political, Sustainable Use

  23. Presentation byPatrick Mulvany ITDG <www.ukabc.org>

  24. Agricultural Biodiversity • Agricultural Biodiversitycomprises the diversity of genetic resources, varieties, breeds, sub-species and species of crops, livestock, forestry, fisheries and micro-organisms used for food, fodder, fibre, fuel and pharmaceuticals.

  25. Agricultural Biodiversity • Agricultural biodiversity results from the interaction between the environment, genetic resources and the management systems and practices used by culturally diverse peoples resulting in the different ways land and water resources are used for production.

  26. Agricultural Biodiversity Levels of Diversity GENETIC SPECIES AGROECOSYSTEMS

  27. ANALYSIS OF ACTIVITIES The Alternative Civil Society Proposal for Sustainable Development(Ecuador Jan 2001) SOCIAL ECONOMIC SUSTAIN-ABLE USEOF NR ENVIRON- MENTAL POLITICAL CULTURAL

  28. PURPOSES OF LOCAL SUSTAINABLE AGROECOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT Develop/control culturally appropriate technology Improve productivity and food sovereignty SOCIAL ECONOMIC SUSTAIN-ABLE USEOF NR Improve gender equity Increase Income and Power ENVIRON- MENTAL POLITICAL CULTURAL Strengthen institutional capacity Conserve and develop agricultural biodiversity Diversify production systems & regenerate NR Sustain Agroecosystem Functions

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