The Geneva Academy, together with policy research think thank The South Center, Swissaid and CROPS4HD, released a new report on UPOV and UNDROP by the title:
The promotion of commercial seed systems and the strengthening of intellectual property (IP) over plant varieties and plant biotechnology in the last 30 years have seriously undermined the customary practices of seed saving, selecting and exchanging by peasants and, consequently their right to seed, as well as impacting agrobiodiversity.
In response to that, the United Nations adopted in 2018 the Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas (UNDROP) to enshrine peasants’ right to seeds in international human rights law.
The report assesses the member states’ obligations under the UNDROP and makes the recommendation that AU and African states recognize the intrinsic value of peasant seed systems and their central role in agrobiodiversity preservation, food sovereignty and climate change adaptation, when considering seeds laws and policies. It further suggests that the right to participation, including of paesant women, is fully taken into account.
