TWN
Info Service on Intellectual Property Issues (Feb14/09)
13 February 2014
Third World Network
APBREBES
Updates
on Plant Variety Protection
Issue
#5 – February 11, 2014
Content
1.
Editorial: Fifth issue of Updates on Plant Variety Protection
2. Massive Protests in Ghana over UPOV style Plant Breeders' Bill
3. Canada's National Farmers Union Launch Campaign Against UPOV 1991
4. European Coordination Via Campesina Demonstrate to Reclaim "Peasants
Rights"
5. Study on "Concentration of Market Power in the EU Seed Market"
6. Report on Revival of Seed Diversity Crucial for Food for the Future
7. QUNO Publications on Plant Breeders’ Rights in India and Thailand
•
Calendar
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1. Editorial: Fifth issue of Updates on Plant Variety Protection
The fifth issue of the Updates on Plant Variety Protection highlights
protests in Ghana against UPOV 91 while in Canada, farmers have launched
a campaign against UPOV 91 including the drafting of a Farmers Seed
Act to safeguard farmers' rights. In Brussels, farmers demonstrated
against a planned seed marketing legislation that favors varieties
conforming to UPOV criteria, and does not guarantee farmers' rights.
2.
Massive Protests in Ghana over UPOV style Plant Breeders' Bill
Farmer, labour unions, religious, political and civil society organisations
took to the streets of Accra on 28th January to demonstrate against
the adoption of the Plant Breeders’ Bill that is before the Parliament.
Read
more
3.
Canada's National Farmers' Union Launch Campaign Against UPOV 1991
In December 2013, Canada’s Agriculture Minister, Gerry Ritz, introduced
an agriculture bill in Parliament called the "Agricultural
Growth Act" (Bill C-18). One of the main aims being to bring
the Canadian Plant Breeders Rights Act in conformity with UPOV 1991
to enable Canada to ratify UPOV 1991.
Read
more
4.
European Coordination Via Campesina Demonstrate to Reclaim "Peasants
Rights"
On 20 January 2014, peasants from all over Europe demonstrated before
the European Parliament.
Read
more
5.
Study on "Concentration of Market Power in the EU Seed Market"
This new study commissioned by the Greens/EFA Group in the European
Parliament sheds light on the increasing concentration within the
EU seed market. It concludes that industry's mantra that the EU market
is healthy and diversified, with 7000 mainly small and medium enterprises
is misleading.
Read
more
6.
Report on Seeds for Life: Scaling up Agro-Biodiversity
The ability to grow resilient, nutritious food in adequate quantity
for a growing global population in the face of climate change must
necessarily be rooted in the revival of seed diversity. Thus, farmers’
complex knowledge, and their right to save, adapt, exchange and sell
seed must be recognized and protected in policy and practice.
Read
more
7.
QUNO publications on Plant Breeders’ Rights in India and Thailand
Two new publications published by the Quaker United Nations Office
(QUNO) focus on TRIPS-compatible alternatives to UPOV-style plant
variety protection systems, as applied in Thailand and in India.
Read
more
Calendar
of Events
Spring
2014 session of UPOV bodies, 10 to 11 April 2014
• Thursday, 10 April Administrative and Legal Committee CAJ/69
• Friday, 11 April (morning) Consultative Committee CC/87
• Friday, 11 April (afternoon) Council C(EXTR.)/31
See
also the Upcoming Events on
our website
Subscribe
Subscribe
to the APBREBES Newsletter.
You
are welcome to forward this issue to other interested individuals
or organisations.
Feedback
& Contact
Susanne Gura, APBREBES Coordinator
Tel: 0049 228 948 0670
Mob: 0049 177 669 1400
Mail: contact@apbrebes.org
Web: www.apbrebes.org
