CIARD, with the support of the GFAR Secretariat and FAO, organized an E-discussion from 20 October until 10 November 2014 for global participation on the Rights of Farmers to Data, Information and Knowledge.

 

The outputs of the E-discussion and supplementary research will be used to develop a briefing paper for policy makers, actors and stakeholders on the rights of farmers for data, information and knowledge.

The purpose of this document is to summarize the opinions received from approximately 100 contributors registered to participate in the E-discussion. The document compiles the opinions and discussions on the following questions, aiming to cover several dimensions to get a clear understanding of issues, possible solutions and actions regarding rights of farmers to data, information and knowledge:

 

i) What do we mean by the rights of smallholder farmers to data, information and knowledge?

ii) How do farmers benefit and lose from these rights of the lack of them?

iii) What is the state of the recognition of these rights by the international community and their implementation in different parts of the world?

iv) How should these rights be implemented and protected?

v) What should be done to include farmers in the mechanisms of data, information and knowledge management to ensure that their rights are included, implemented and protected institutionally and through technology?