NEWS RELEASE. 02/03/2012
GMOs, patenting and legal restrictions on farm-saved seed have made the seeds of our food crops a hotly contested and controversial topic – an issue that the 7th international agricultural biodiversity forum ‘Lets Liberate Diversity’ will tackle in Strathpeffer, near Inverness, from 9 to 11 March 2012.
Bringing together key organisations: the Scottish Crofting Federation, Garden Organic, the UK Food Group, Practical Action, and European and African partners, this year’s Highland location highlights the contribution Scottish crofters have made towards maintaining important local crop and vegetable varieties as well as rare breeds of native livestock. The forum is entitled “Celebrating Crofters Seeds and Breeds.”
The event comes in a year when a long awaited reform of EU seed legislation is due. EU seed legislation restricts the use of farm-saved seed and is perceived by many as a threat to the conservation of agricultural biodiversity. Increased privatisation of breeding and especially the patenting of genes and gene complexes further limit the open access by small-scale farmers and gardeners, whilst also threatening the diversity of, seeds and breeds. GM and hybrid seeds are replacing farmers’ seed in many parts of the world, making farmers dependent on commercial seeds which require higher inputs of fertilizer and pesticides; as a consequence many small-scale farmers face growing indebtedness. Beside these socio-economic effects, GMOs pose a grave environmental risk and burden at a time when ecological solutions using farmers’ seeds should and could be deployed. All of these impending issues will be high on the agenda of the ‘Let’s Liberate Diversity’ forum.
Since its foundation in 2005 ‘Let’s Liberate Diversity” has been a major force in opposing the threats to seed diversity. Organised by the European Coordination – an umbrella body for Europe’s seed networks -these networks represent everything from organic wheat breeder-bakers to vegetable ‘heirloom’ guardians, to Hebridean crofters saving seed for next winter’s fodder and conserving their native highland cattle and sheep
Over the three days the forum will see an international Roundtable at Strathpeffer Pavillion on Friday 9 March, starting at 1 pm, provide up-to-date information by specialists on the key threats to seed diversity. A second Roundtable, also in the Pavillion, on Saturday morning 10 March, will focus on campaigns for changing EU seed legislation and against GMOs and intellectual property rights such as plant variety protection and patenting. Practical and policy workshops will take place on Saturday afternoon at Strathpeffer Community Centre.
An event with a serious message, Let’s Liberate Diversity will also celebrate Scottish crofting culture with a crofters’ fair on Saturday 10 March exhibiting all sorts of croft produce. Activities across the Strathpeffer Pavilion and the Village Hall will offer plenty of opportunities to meet local seed breeders and conservers and farmers of rare breeds, and for swapping information and seeds.
A more detailed programme can be found on the forum website: www.liberate-diversity-scotland2012.org/index.html
NOTES FOR EDITORS
The European Coordination of Farmers Seed Networks is the umbrella organisation for seed networks in, Italy (Rete Semi Rurali), France (Réseau Semences Paysanne), Spain (Red de Semillas) Switzerland (Pro Specie Rara), and Scotland (Scottish Crofting Federation). Partner networks from Tunisia and Senegal are also invited to participate in this “Let’s Liberate Diversity” forum. The event “Let’s Liberate Diversity- Celebrating Crofters Breeds and Seeds” is being funded by the European Commission.
Contact:
Maria Scholten (SCF)07746 671 984
Patrick Mulvany (UK Food Group)patrickmulvany@clara.co.uk / 07949 575 711
Charlotte Corner (Garden Organic)ccorner@gardenorganic.org.uk / 02476 217 707