Horizon 2020 Project DIVERSIFOOD, Booklet #5
This DIVERSIFOOD booklet (Booklet #5) provides policy recommendations to embed crop genetic diversity across food value chains. It summarises project findings and proposes five areas of action: secure the legal status of heterogeneous cultivars (including recognition of landraces, composite cross populations and participatory-bred material); ensure coherent policies for diverse cropping and food systems (notably via the Common Agricultural Policy and rural development measures); embed crop genetic diversity into food value chains (supporting diverse value chains, traceability and communication); invest in awareness raising and education for farmers, processors, consumers and policymakers about biodiverse food; and foster multi-actor, integrated research approaches (participatory, transdisciplinary and networked). The booklet discusses EU developments such as the Organic Regulation (EC/848/2018), temporary experiments on composite cross populations, limitations of current seed legislation and opportunities within CAP reform. It emphasises public investment, supportive legal frameworks, Farmers’ Rights (ITPGRFA), and the role of multi-actor networks and local initiatives in scaling biodiverse, resilient food systems.
Key topics: seed law, CAP reform, farmers’ rights, participatory plant breeding, community seed banks, agrobiodiversity, biodiverse food
