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

The International The International Undertaking and Genetic Undertaking and Genetic Resource Governance Resource Governance


Patrick Mulvany

ITDG

RSPB, Chatham House

Monday 8th October 2001

Patrick Mulvany

ITDG

RSPB, Chatham House

Monday 8th October 2001



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

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

• Agricultural Biodiversity and Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (GRFA)

• International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources

• Genetic Resource Governance

• Agricultural Biodiversity and Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (GRFA)

• International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources

• Genetic Resource Governance



COP V lobby COP V lobby COP V lobby COP V lobby

Agricultural Biodiversity Agricultural Biodiversity and GRFAand 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

• 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



• 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)

• 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)



– 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

– 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



International UndertakingInternational Undertakingon Plant Genetic Resourceson Plant Genetic ResourcesInternational UndertakingInternational Undertaking

on Plant Genetic Resourceson 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

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

International UndertakingInternational UndertakingCSO evaluation criteriaCSO evaluation criteria

International UndertakingInternational UndertakingCSO evaluation criteriaCSO 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.

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.

International UndertakingInternational UndertakingWho’ll Own the Seeds of LifeWho’ll Own the Seeds of Life

International UndertakingInternational UndertakingWho’ll Own the Seeds of LifeWho’ll Own the Seeds of Life

• CSOs have kept up consistent pressure

• Press coverage

• Sign-on letters

• Briefing papers

• Web reports

• CSOs have kept up consistent pressure

• Press coverage

• Sign-on letters

• Briefing papers

• Web reports

International UndertakingInternational Undertaking CSO Campaign on the IU CSO Campaign on the IU International UndertakingInternational Undertaking CSO Campaign on the IU CSO Campaign on the IU

http://www.ukabc.orghttp://www.ukabc.org

International UndertakingInternational UndertakingOutstanding ProblemsOutstanding Problems

International UndertakingInternational UndertakingOutstanding ProblemsOutstanding 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

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

FAO CBD

WTOUPOV WIPO

GEF

IU

INTERNATIONAL UNDERTAKINGON PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES [FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE]

International UndertakingInternational UndertakingCentral to GovernanceCentral to Governance

International UndertakingInternational UndertakingCentral to GovernanceCentral to Governance

CGIAR

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

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

Perverse Policies Perverse Policies Perverse Policies Perverse Policies

Farmers are key to the management of the environment as well as providers of food security

Genetic Resource Governance Genetic Resource Governance Farmers: providing food & Farmers: providing food &

stewardship of the environment stewardship of the environment

Genetic Resource Governance Genetic Resource Governance Farmers: providing food & Farmers: providing food &

stewardship of the environment stewardship of the environment

Farmers have concerns about access and control to the genetic resources they require for common good tasks: providing food and biological and ecological services

Genetic Resource Governance Genetic Resource Governance Farmers: defending the global Farmers: defending the global

commons commons

Genetic Resource Governance Genetic Resource Governance Farmers: defending the global Farmers: defending the global

commons commons

Farmers have inalienable Rights to the resources, including seeds, they have developed, nurtured and manage on behalf of humanity

Genetic Resource Governance Genetic Resource Governance Farmers Rights 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



• Gikingo Seed FairKenya

• Gikingo Seed FairKenya

Genetic Resource Governance Genetic Resource Governance Farmers’ Solutions Farmers’ Solutions

Genetic Resource Governance Genetic Resource Governance Farmers’ Solutions Farmers’ Solutions

Genetic Resource Governance Genetic Resource Governance 2001/2002 agenda 2001/2002 agenda

Genetic Resource Governance Genetic Resource Governance 2001/2002 agenda 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

• 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

Genetic Resource Governance Genetic Resource Governance Final Thoughts Final Thoughts

Genetic Resource Governance Genetic Resource Governance Final Thoughts 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

• 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

Presentation byPatrick Mulvany

ITDG

<www.ukabc.org>

Presentation byPatrick Mulvany

ITDG

<www.ukabc.org>

Agricultural BiodiversityAgricultural BiodiversityAgricultural BiodiversityAgricultural Biodiversity

• Agricultural Biodiversity comprises 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.

• Agricultural Biodiversity comprises 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.

Agricultural BiodiversityAgricultural BiodiversityAgricultural BiodiversityAgricultural 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.

• 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.

AGROECOSYSTEMSAGROECOSYSTEMS

GENETICGENETIC

SPECIESSPECIES

Agricultural BiodiversityAgricultural Biodiversity Levels of Diversity Levels of Diversity

Agricultural BiodiversityAgricultural Biodiversity Levels of Diversity Levels of Diversity

SOCIAL ECONOMIC

ANALYSIS OF ACTIVITIESANALYSIS OF ACTIVITIESANALYSIS OF ACTIVITIESANALYSIS OF ACTIVITIES

ENVIRON-MENTAL

CULTURALPOLITICAL

SUSTAIN-ABLE USE

OF NR

The Alternative Civil Society Proposal for Sustainable Development(Ecuador Jan 2001)

The Alternative Civil Society Proposal for Sustainable Development(Ecuador Jan 2001)

SOCIAL ECONOMIC

ENVIRON-MENTAL

Conserve and develop agricultural biodiversity

Diversify production systems &

regenerate NR

Sustain Agroecosystem Functions

Improve productivity and food sovereignty

Increase Income and Power

Develop/control culturally appropriate technology

Improve gender equity

Strengthen institutional capacity

PURPOSES OF PURPOSES OF LOCAL LOCAL

SUSTAINABLE SUSTAINABLE AGROECOLOGICAL AGROECOLOGICAL

DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT SUSTAIN-ABLE USE

OF NR

CULTURALPOLITICAL

Documents

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