Some Canadian groups concerned about farmers’ ability to exchange, use and sell their own seed are unhappy with Canada’s role at a recent meeting of signatories to an international treaty on plant genetics.
One group accused Canada of playing “dirty tricks” and being obstructionist during the discussions.
“It was infuriating,” said Pat Mooney, Ottawa-based executive director of ETC Group (Erosion, Technology and Concentration), who attended the meeting in Tunis.
However, the head of the Canadian delegation said Canada abided by the terms of the treaty and acted appropriately throughout the conference.
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“As far as we’re concerned, we managed all this as we are supposed to,” said Brad Fraleigh, director of multilateral science relations with Agriculture Canada.
He said the process worked and there was nothing improper about Canada’s actions.
Delegates from 120 nations gathered in the North African city in early June for a five-day session held under the auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
The countries are signatories to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, commonly known as the international seed treaty.
The aim of the treaty, which came into force in 2004 after seven years of negotiation, is to guarantee food security through the conservation, exchange and sustainable use of the world’s plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, as well as the fair and equitable sharing of any resulting benefits.
The controversy focused on Canada’s actions during debate on a resolution suggesting member countries should take certain actions in the area of farmers’ rights.
Mooney said Canada tried to change the language to weaken the resolution, which called on member countries to review national regulations affecting farmers’ rights to use and exchange seed.
That became the cause célèbre of the meeting, said Mooney.
Fraleigh said the Canadian delegation felt the resolution exceeded the treaty’s authority and consulted with officials in Ottawa before negotiating new wording with a number of other signatories.
The resolution that was eventually passed:
- Encouraged countries to review and if necessary adjust national measures regarding farmers’ rights as defined in the treaty.
- Asked members to submit views and experiences with farmers’ rights.
- Proposed regional workshops and consultations on farmers’ rights.
- Directed the governing secretariat to gather information from all that and report back to the next meeting in 2011.
Fraleigh said Canada has not decided how it will respond to the resolution.
Farmers’ rights constitute a contentious political issue surrounding the treaty.
Some groups say it refers to the right of producers around the world to save and exchange seed. They say the treaty’s signatories should implement national laws and regulations to reflect that interpretation.
Fraleigh disputes that view.
“I’ve heard that said but that’s not what the treaty actually says,” he said.
Article 9 of the treaty states that farmers rights are the responsibility of national governments and subject to national legislation.
It cites three specific farmers’ rights: the protection of traditional knowledge relevant to plant genetic resources, the right to be involved in decision making on relevant issues at the national level and the right to share in any benefits arising from the use of plant genetic resource.
Fraleigh emphasized there is much more to the treaty than farmers’ rights, noting the agenda for the Tunis meeting included more than 18 issues up for discussion, including such things as funding strategy, a business plan, developing multilateral access to genetic resources and sustainability.
He said Canada was a key player in negotiating the treaty, was one of the first countries to ratify it and has been a major financial supporter.
“It’s good for Canada, good for the world and good for the conservation of world plant genetic resources, the raw material for plant breeders,” said Fraleigh.
However, the critics think Canada could do better.
Terry Boehm, a Saskatchewan farmer and member of the National Farmers Union, says Canada’s actions at the Tunis meeting reinforce its reputation as a “bad boy” when it comes to seed issues affecting farmers.
“This continues a pattern we’ve seen for some time,” he said.
“In a number of forums Canada has tried to stop any initiative that recognizes the traditional rights of farmers when it comes to the use of seeds.”
He said Canadian government officials seem to be totally focused on innovation, which equates with biotechnology.
“That leads to very expensive seed prices and some pretty heavy-handed enforcement by companies that control gene patents to enforce the prohibition of seed saving.”
Fraleigh said that to his knowledge there has never been any call from the Canadian agriculture sector for new laws or regulations in the area of farmers’ rights.
“I can only assume the majority are comfortable with the approach being taken through Article 9 of the treaty,” he said.
