The organisations behind No Patents On Seeds are especially concerned about increasing number of patents on plants, seeds and farm animals and their impact on farmers, breeders, innovation and biodiversity. These patents create new dependencies for farmers, breeders, food producers and consumers. These patents have to be regarded as misappropriation of basic resources in farm and food production and as general abuse of patent law. We call for an urgent re-think of European patent law in biotechnology and plant breeding and to support clear regulations that exclude from patentability processes for breeding, genetic material, plants and animals and food derived thereof.
Berlin - 9 Feb 2012 - The Bundestag (German parliament) unanimoulsy adopted a resolution, insisting:
- that no patents are granted on conventional breeding methods, livestock and plants derived by such methods, as well as their offspring,
- that the scope of product-by-process patents which cover livestock and plants is limited to the process described in the patent.
Brussels - 8 February 2012 - "No Patents on Seeds" organised a public discussion in the European Parliament, which was kindly hosted by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) of three different parties.
Speakers included representatives from Plantum (the Dutch plant breeder's association), COAG (the Spanish farmers organisation), Mars Inc., Misereor, and Prof. Fritz Dolder of the University of Basel.
Below you can find the speakers documents for download.
Sign the letter.
