News In Brief:
– EU agriculture MEPs voted to exempt conservation varieties from strict seed marketing rules, extending registration periods to 30 years.
– The decision empowers farmers to exchange seeds informally but sparks debates within the industry regarding its potential impact on seed quality and diversity.
In a recent development within the European Parliament, the Agriculture Committee (AGRI) took a significant stride by voting to relax regulations on marketing seeds and plant reproductive material, a news report said.
This decision, led by Italian MEP Herbert Dorfmann, brings a unique focus on conservation varieties, traditional crops crucial to local farmers.
The proposed changes aim to exempt access, sale, and transfer of conservation varieties from stringent marketing rules, extending registration periods to 30 years. This move is particularly vital for preserving old varieties adapted to local conditions, safeguarding agricultural diversity, and supporting small-scale farmers.
A win for conservation organisations
Conservation organisations, including seed banks like Arche Noah, welcome these amendments, foreseeing easier distribution of seeds to farmers and hobby gardeners. Magdalena Prieler, an expert at Arche Noah, hailed the AGRI’s guidelines, emphasising the importance of promoting diversity in agriculture.
Additionally, AGRI’s decision allows farmers to exchange seeds informally, addressing concerns raised by groups like European Coordination Via Campesina. This move upholds farmers’ rights and aligns with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants.
However, the seed industry, represented by Euroseeds, expresses reservations about AGRI’s amendments, fearing adverse effects on seed quality and plant health. Euroseeds urges the Parliament to reconsider, emphasising the importance of balancing seed security and diversity.
