GFAR has long been concerned with Farmers’ Rights and played a pivotal role in the adoption of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

 

In 2012, the Global Forum began concerted activities supporting Farmers’ Rights implementation into practice, responding directly to national governments and smallholder farmer requests and needs. The main objective was to find ways by which Farmers’ Rights can be better addressed in national policies and in practice.

From 23-26 June, 2015 at a workshop organized by Bioversity International GFAR joined a group of experts discussing draft guidelines to support facilitated access of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

Farmers' Rights in relation to plant genetic resources for food and agriculture include the right of smallholder farmers to save, use, exchange and sell farm-saved seed and other propagating material; participate in decision-making and protect traditional knowledge, innovation and practices relevant for the conservation and use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

 

Community seed banks are an important tool to implement Farmers' Rights.Through community seed banks smallholder farmers can save, exchange and sell seeds from their own cro