Telesur, 20 July 2016
“A law on seeds is unnecessary, because seeds are a common good,” said activist Javier Carrera. | Photo: Reuters
At stake is not just the future of small and sustainable agriculture in Ecuador, but also the food sovereignty of all humanity.
Ecuador’s campesinos and civil society have launched a campaign to protect food sovereignty against transgenic firms, as they seek to impose intellectual property rights on seeds which campesinos have been cultivating for centuries.
The campaign comes as Ecuadorean lawmakers debate a new Seed Law in the National Assembly, which could possibly empower transgenic firms to patent traditional seeds which have been used by small farmers for years.
To address the risk, campesino groups encouraged Ecuadorean citizens to register with electoral authorities before Tuesday April 19, so they can participate in a public forum on the issue which lawmakers have agreed to hold before the formal vote.
The campaign was led by Ecuador’s Seed Guardians Network, a Latin American organization which promotes agro-biodiversity, agro-ecology and food sovereignty, defending free access to over 3,000 seeds cultivated in the Andean country as a common good.
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
Related content
Ecuador – Seeds and Food Sovereignty at Risk
A statement from the civil society of Ecuador regarding new seed laws
Related Publication
The Law of the Seed
[Spanish]
Contenido relacionado
Javier Carrera: “privatizar las semillas (nativas y criollas) es como privatizar el aire”
–
Declaración del Colectivo Nacional Agroecologico frente a la Propuesta de Ley de Agrobiodiversidad, Semillas y Fomento Agroecológico
Jann says:
December 20, 2017 at 6:47 pm -
I would love to connect up with the fellow activists on this matter.
I have recently moved back to Ecuador after. 15 years.
I grew up with organics garden n managing retail produce n medicinal herbal departments.
I have been n am still intensely also immersed within permaculture, as well as natural health n other related interests, activites.
As well as being a long time social , political activist for animal n natures rights, fighting against get/gm/.monsantoism.
They can reach me via +66931203541
Gracias….
Jann