Global Symposium on Farmers’ Rights, New Delhi, 12–15 September 2023
This synthesis note by Regine Andersen (Fridtjof Nansen Institute) summarizes current knowledge on farmer-managed seed systems (FMSS), the role of community seed banks (CSBs), and how realizing Farmers’ Rights can support seed and food security. It highlights that FMSS supply most seed for small-scale farmers in many parts of the Global South, are well adapted to local conditions and important for resilience under climate change, yet remain neglected by law and policy. Well-managed CSBs can serve as local platforms for conserving and distributing diverse, quality seed, building capacity, and enhancing livelihoods, but legal and policy barriers—such as variety registration requirements, seed marketing laws, and limits on selling unregistered local varieties—restrict their outreach and financial sustainability. The note reviews examples like Quality Declared Seed (QDS) schemes and finds them often insufficient for FMSS. It concludes with a policy-oriented agenda: identify and remove legal and policy barriers; design supportive incentive structures and long-term programmes; undertake capacity building; create national, regional and international exchange platforms; and develop voluntary guidelines to enable FMSS and implement Article 9 of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
Key topics: farmer-managed seed systems, community seed banks, farmers’ rights, seed policy, seed legislation, seed security, plant genetic resources
