seeds

Dutch debate on patenting and breeders' rights not finished

(By organic chain organisation Biologica) On June 30, 2010, the Dutch parliament discussed the report "Veredelde zaken". This report focuses on two protection methods for intellectual property used in the plant breeding sector, patenting and breeders' rights (see below). The report shows that patent law not only limits access to genetic resources but also to the market and hence increase power concentrations in the breeding sector. This restricts innovations in plant breeding and supply of (new) varieties and thus constitutes a direct threat to food security. Read more...  

Monsanto looking for trouble

Flevoland, March 27, 2010 – Today a CSI Crime Seed Investigation unit visited several greenhouses at the national event Come into the Greenhouse visualising what the future may look like: world's largest seed company Monsanto will check growers for the presence of suspicious crops and  prevent them from using patented seeds or accuse them of patent breach. With this action A SEED wants to draw attention to the international campaign 'No Patents On Seeds' against applying patent law on seeds and animals. Read more...  

Inspection Group reveals agenda Monsanto

November 2nd 2010, Enkhuizen, The Netherlands – Today around thirty climate conscious citizens paid a visit to the main premises of international agri-chemical giant Monsanto in the Netherlands. The aim was to find clues about the company's hidden agenda. Their suspicions were aroused by the company's new claims to feed and fuel the world, which somehow do not match Monsanto’s current atrocious human rights and environmental record. Read more...  

Successful blockade of Monsanto in The Netherlands

On May 17 2010 about 40 persons of the action group 'Roundup Monsanto' blocked both gates of the Monsanto seed company in Bergschenhoek (near Rotterdam). 'Roundup Monsanto' wants Monsanto to back out of the seed market, and demand an end to patents on seeds and living organisms. Monsanto and other agro-chemical multinationals are lobbying the Dutch government and the EU for legislative changes that would make it easier for large companies to take control of the seed market and food production.[1] The blockade took place at the former De Ruiter Seeds, acquired by Monsanto in 2008, where research laboratories, offices, greenhouses, and a central storage for seeds and seedlings are to be found. Read more...  

Brochure: You Reap what You Sow

Monopolisation of seeds - This brochure takes a look at the current state of affairs regarding monopolisation in the seed market of Europe and the Netherlands, and examines the implications for the future of food and farming as we know it. Read more...  

Picture report Monsanto blockade

Here you find some pictures from the blockade of the Monsanto plant in Bergschenhoek (NL) on May 17, 2010.  Read more...  

Seed Business infotour

..everything you ever wanted to know..


The whole months of April 2010 A SEED toured through the Netherlands and Belgium with info activities about the gobbling practices of seed multinationals and the growing counter movement of protest groups and alternative food and seed projects. We will continue into May. Towns we will visit (again): Wapserveen (May 1), Amsterdam (May 3), The Hague (May 11) and Zwolle (May 12) & Nijmegen (June 2 - TBC).
Read more...  

Let'€™s liberate diversity!

Farmers and activists protest against new EU-regulation for seeds. A call for action and alternatives.

Against the background of an upcoming regulation on EU level, which is likely to expand corporate control over seeds, the “first link” in the food chain, initiatives and organisations that save and exchange seeds prepare for a European-wide campaign “Sowing the future – Harvesting diversity”. The 5th seminar of European Seed Initiatives from 25th till 27th March 2010 in Graz, Austria will be a central place of discussion and of planning activities to defend farmers’ rights over seeds and agricultural biodiversity. Read more...  

UN Upholds Moratorium on Terminator Seed Technology

Worldwide Movement of Farmers, Indigenous Peoples and Civil Society Organizations Calls for Ban

March 31, 2006 - It’s official. Governments at the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) have unanimously upheld the international de facto moratorium on Terminator technology – plants that are genetically engineered to produce sterile seeds at harvest. The 8th meeting of the CBD ended today in Curitiba, Brazil. Read more...