Article list
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Mid Term Review 2021
Our 2021 Mid Term Review aims to determine the extent to which the different activities have contributed towards the overall objectives and outcomes, and the lessons we can draw. This is to help all stakeholders have the necessary information to take timely and informed decisions in the near future. The Terms of Reference for this […]
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Newsletter
Newsletter #1 Campaign URL Copy Twitter 0 tweets Subscribe Past Issues RSS Translate English العربية Afrikaans беларуская мова български català 中文（简体） 中文（繁體） Hrvatski Česky Dansk eesti keel Nederlands Suomi Français Deutsch Ελληνική हिन्दी Magyar Gaeilge Indonesia íslenska Italiano 日本語 ភាសាខ្មែរ 한국어 македонски јазик بهاس ملايو Malti Norsk Polski Português Português – Portugal Română Русский Español Kiswahili Svenska עברית Lietuvių […]
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Oxfam and No Patents on Seeds! demand a stop to the patenting of plants: 180.000 signatures handed over to the European Patent Office
Plants and animals derived from conventional breeding are no longer patentable. This was the verdict published by the Enlarged Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office (EPO) in May 2020. A new report of Oxfam’s partner No Patents on Seeds! shows, however, that such patents are still being applied for due to the legal […]
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Bringing farmers to the table:
Innovating Plant BreedingFaced with the dual threat of climate change and biodiversity loss, crop improvement programs are straining to contribute to sustained global food and nutrition security. Innovation is needed to increase their efficiency, reducing the time required to develop crop varieties and improve their adoption and dissemination by farmers. Participatory plant breeding (PPB), the active participation […]
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Líderes y lideresas campesinas fortalecen sus capacidades para la incidencia política
Sesenta líderes y lideresas campesinas fortalecen sus capacidades de incidencia política en la Escuela “Promoviendo el Sistema Tradicional de Producción de Semillas en el Perú”, iniciativa organizada por FOVIDA con el apoyo de Oxfam, que se realiza desde el 01 al 29 de diciembre, con la finalidad de promover el sistema tradicional de producción de semillas […]
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Launch of the Access to Seeds Index Regional Landscaping Reports
SD=HS joined today the launch of the Access to Seeds Index Regional Landscaping Reports for Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) and Western and Central Africa (WCA), during the 7th Session of Africa Regional for Sustainable Development of the UN Economic Commission for Africa. The reports provide the benchmark for the 2021 Access to Seeds Index. […]
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SD=HS initiates collaboration with Catholic Relief Services
Today, SD=HS started working together with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to investigate the organisational, legal and economic aspects of seed production and marketing by smallholder farmers across countries and systems The purpose of this collaboration agreement is to compare the achievements of the seed clubs in the Mekong Delta with those of farmers producing under […]
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SD=HS at the “One World, One Health” Global Landscapes Forum Annual Conference
Representing SD=HS, Susan Bragdon joined today the Global Landscapes Forum annual conference entitled “One World, One Health.” She was part of a side event organized by the Crop Trust: “Harnessing the Power of Nature: Building Resilient Food Systems through Greater Agrobiodiversity”. All panel members focused on the importance of agrobiodiversity for a food and nutrition […]
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European Patent Office: Plants and animals obtained through classical breeding are not patentable
May 14, 2020 Plants and animals derived from conventional breeding are no longer patentable. This is the verdict published today by the Enlarged Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office (EPO). Oxfam endorses the ruling but at the same time demands further decisions to close existing loopholes. The judgment will take effect retroactively from […]
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Patents, Digital Sequence Information and the Treaty: A reflection on current trends and future impacts
Oxfam Novib and South Centre organized an event on patents and Digital Sequence Information on the side of the Eighth Session of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (FAO Treaty) that took place in Rome from November 9 to 16. With three presentations, bringing in a […]
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Highlights of Oxfam at GB8
From 11-16 November 2019, the Eighth Session of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (a UN-FAO Treaty) took place in Rome. One of the positive outcomes is that the process of collecting experiences and options for the implementation of Farmers’ Rights will be continued with stronger […]
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Guardians of Seeds: A virtual reality movie
During the 8th session of the Governing Body on the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Oxfam hosted a virtual reality (VR) experience in the FAO atrium. From 11-16 November 2019, all participants of the GB meeting and all visitors of the UN FAO building were invited to join the Community […]
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‘Number of plant patents increasing around the globe’
‘Patents on plants: Is the sellout of genes a threat to farmers and global food security?’ wonders Die Welle’s Tim Schauenberg in this article. Among others, Schauenberg quotes SD=HS’ policy advisor Bram de Jonge, also co-author of the research report on the ‘Status of patenting plants in the Global South‘: Bram de Jonge from Oxfam […]
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Case study: Champion Seeds, a Farmer Seed Enterprise
Read the full account on the lessons learned while establishing a Farmer Seed Enterprise: Champion Farmer Seeds Cooperative in Zimbabwe. The involved practitioners reflect on the assumptions made at the start of the program, and how the experience can guide further development of different models of Farmer Seed Enterprises. Go to publication
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How we work: explained on a canvas
The Sowing Diversity=Harvesting Security program works to increase access to and sustainable use of plant genetic resources as a key condition for food and nutrition security under conditions of climate change. Food and nutrition security are impeded and increased by several interrelated factors. That is why the SD=HS program works through an integrated approach. This […]
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SD=HS meets for Global Methodological Workshop
In the last week of May, all colleagues from Oxfam and partner organizations involved in the SD=HS program 2019-2022, met in The Hague, The Netherlands. The Inception and Global Methodological workshops were opened by Oxfam Novib director Michiel Servaes and by a panel discussion with participants from the secretariat of the Treaty on Plant Genetic […]
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Now available: Report on Workshop “Registration of Farmers’ Varieties”
The registration of farmers’ varieties in national and regional seed catalogues – as objects of seed regulation – has been the subject of considerable debate in recent years, at local, national and international levels. Farmers have contributed immensely to the development, management and conservation of a wide range of crop varieties, but national seed regulations […]
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‘Women custodians of biodiversity hold key to food security’
Gigi Manicad (SD=HS) reflects on the crucial yet neglected position of women smallholder farmers in this interview, with the German Die Welle. The article refers to a case study from the SD=HS programme, that is featured in the “The State of the World’s Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture” UN-report. [I]f declining biodiversity for food […]
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SD=HS featured in ‘The State of the World’s Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture’
It’s a great honor and recognition that the work of the Sowing Diversity=Harvesting Security programme is featured in “The State of the World’s Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture” that was launched on Friday February 22. From the SD=HS work, the topic of women’s traditional knowledge for improved food and seed security under climate change is […]
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‘All countries are interdependent for vital plant genetic material’
Watch this video (© FAO) to learn about the main mechanisms and impact of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA). SD=HS supports the Treaty and its Benefit Sharing Fund that aims to return a fair share of the profits made over plant genetic resources, back to the developing countries […]