Speakers
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Francois MeienbergCoordinator of APBREBESFrancois Meienberg is the coordinator of the Association For Plant Breeding For The Benefit of Society (APBREBES). APBREBES is a global network of civil society organisations that advocates for plant breeding for the benefit of society, the full implementation of farmers’ rights to plant genetic resources and the promotion of agricultural biodiversity.
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Gabriele ManeoGabriele Maneo is an agronomist with more than 10 years of experience in developing managing and evaluating international development programmes in the field of rural development, nutrition and food systems.
He graduated in Tropical Agriculture at the university of Florence, and holds a Master Degree in Development Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
He has developed successful multi-million proposals and managed complex projects and evaluations for a wide range of clients including the European Commission, UN agencies, Governments, and Large Foundations.
He is a professionally qualified project manager with expertise on adaptive programming and Monitoring Evaluation and Learning.Since 2023 he collaborate with the European Coordination Liberate Diversity! supporting the Secretariat and managing the EU funded project LIVESEEDING.
Organizer
European Coordination Let's Liberate Diversity!
Website
https://liberatediversity.orgOther Organizers
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ProSpecieRara
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Website
https://www.prospecierara.ch/
WS 4 – Seeds and Sovereignty: What’s Happening in Global Policy?
This workshop aims to update participants on the most important global seed policy processes currently shaping access, benefit-sharing, conservation and sustainable use goals worldwide. We will provide an overview of the latest developments in international negotiations, such as the Treaty’s Multilateral System and the Global Plan of Action of the Commission for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, and examine how these frameworks impact farmers’ rights and seed sovereignty. The objective is to help participants understand the stakes, opportunities, and challenges in engaging with these processes, and to foster a collective discussion on strategies for advocacy, collaboration, and influence at the international level.
The workshop Seeds and Sovereignty: What’s Happening in Global Policy? will provide a deep dive into the major international negotiations shaping the future of farmers’ seeds and cultivated biodiversity. Led by Gabriele Maneo (ECLLD) and François Meienberg (ProSpecieRara), the session will cover the current status and evolving dynamics of key policy frameworks, including the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), the Treaty’s Multilateral System, and the Global Plan of Action of the Commission for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. We will examine how these international agreements influence national and local seed policies, access and benefit-sharing arrangements, and farmers’ rights. Following a frontal presentation, the session will open space for participant exchanges, providing opportunities to share experiences, raise critical questions, and identify entry points for coordinated civil society and farmers’ engagement in these global policy arenas.
