September 25, 2009

Source: issue III/2009 of the Newsletter on Organic Seeds and Plant Breeding

14-15 October 2009 Marseille: The Farm Seed Opportunities (FSO) project is organizing an International Conference on the issue of seed laws and their impact on landraces, population and conservation varieties. After a short presentation of the main outcomes of the project, a list of invited experts from Northern and Southern countries will give their comments, suggestions and views regarding their national situation. The conference will aim at validating the results of the FSO research program, promoting exchanges amongst stakeholders, outlining a set of legal strategies for a sustainable and efficient use of agricultural biodiversity, taking into account all benefits shared globally.

In this framework, there will be a poster session dealing with the following subjects: participatory plant breeding, landraces (or any kind of “farmers’ varieties”) or the use and valorisation of local varieties.

At the end of the year the FSO project will draft a set of possible legal strategies for on farm plant breeding in Europe, taking into account the need to enlarge the seeds legislation (certification and marketing rules, property rights). Given that most interesting on farm breeding strategies have been developed in the South and that these countries are adopting new seed laws by following the rules of Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), it is important that the FSO partners share their views with experts, scientists and farmers from the South.

For more information or sending posters or abstracts, please contact: Riccardo Bocci, e-mail: r.bocci@aiab.it

Website: http://www.eco-pb.org

Published: September 25, 2009