Speakers
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Helene MaierhoferArche NoahHelene Maierhofer (Arche Noah) engages in participatory vegetable breeding and research on vegetable diversity, coordinating cultivar trials on farms and research stations. She is coordinator of a participatory breeding working group of tomatoes.
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Johanna EckhardtProject coordination No patents on seeds!Project coordination No patents on seeds!
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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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Grietje RaaphorstNordic Maize Breeding -
Lena Hüttmann
WS 8: Plant variety protection, NGTs and patents Updates on political debates and cooperation amongst organic breeders, growers and NGOs
In this workshop we will present the latest research by NO PATENTS ON SEEDS! in regards to patents being granted and applied for on traditional breeding in Europe, provide information on the review process for Community Plant Variety Rights, which has just begun, and give an overview of the political discussions surrounding the deregulation of plants derived from New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) in the EU.
Together with the participants, we aim to facilitate an exchange on how breeders, growers and NGOs can navigate this challenging political landscape, how they can collaborate effectively, and which steps can be taken to safeguard traditional breeding and farmers’ rights in Europe and elsewhere.
Lena Hüttmann from IG Saatgut will focus on consequences the deregulation of NGTs could have for seed savers and breeders in their practical work. ARCHE NOAH will present an open-source breeding programme focused on developing resistance to the TBRF virus in tomatoes. Grietje Raaphorst-Travaille from Nordic Maize Breeding will speak about her experience as an organic breeder being directly affected by patents. And François Meienberg from APBREBES will highlight how European free trade agreements are undermining farmers’ rights in the Global South.
