Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations  
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

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    The Inventory

    This online version of the Inventory presents, for each measure, the title and a brief description with information on implementing organization(s), start year, objectives, core elements, key outcomes, and, if applicable, lessons learned. It thus allows users to quickly identify those examples that may be of interest to them. A hyperlink to the original submission is provided, which includes additional information, such as on the history and context of the presented measure, challenges encountered, or target groups reached. In this way, users can get a more comprehensive idea of the measure in question and the specific context for which it was developed.
     
    To facilitate navigation, the Inventory is subdivided into eleven categories. Measures or practices that fall under more than one category are listed under each one that applies. Furthermore, information is provided on the type(s) of measures that are typically involved, such as technical, administrative, legal, and/or others, and on the relevant sub-article of Article 9 that is addressed. Additional search options allow searching by country, region, free text and keyword.
     
     
     
     
     
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    Number of records: 233

    216) Capacity building of small-scale farming/indigenous communities to manage and conserve Agricultural Heritage Systems

    The project ‘Underpinning the Resiliency of Agricultural Heritage Systems and Rewarding Smallholders, Family Farmers and Indigenous Communities’ started in 2016, funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and implemented by World Agricultural Heritage Foundation (WAHF) in collaboration with national partners in China, Philippines and Tunisia. It aims at developing the capacities of custodians of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) to manage and conserve these systems, and to promote recognition and empowerment of smallholder family farmers, notably women, youth and indigenous peoples. Core components include (1) training of farmers and local custodians to assess, monitor and manage the resiliency of their GIAHS sites; (2) documentation of knowledge and best practices in conserving and managing GIAHS sites, particularly the biodiversity associated to them; and (3) networking and social media application (‘AgLegacy’ app) to share and disseminate knowledge between and among farmers to strengthen management and conservation of GIAHS sites. Key outcomes are enhanced understanding and awareness of the inherent values of traditional agriculture and associated ecosystem goods and services and of the important role of farmers and indigenous communities in this regard; and increased networking, sharing and exchange of knowledge between and among farmers, including through social media.

    Category: 5.In-situ/on farm conservation and management of PGRFA, such as social and cultural measures, community biodiversity management and conservation sites

    Type of measure/practice: Technical; Others

    217) Balancing Plant Variety Protection (PVP) and Farmers' Rights

    Intellectual property rights protecting plant varieties are relevant regarding farmers' rights to save, use, exchange and sell farm-saved seeds. Norway became a member of UPOV in 1993, based on the 1978 Act of the UPOV Convention. Even though the 1991 Act was adopted by many other countries at that time, Norway chose to adhere to the 1978 Act. In 2004, the government proposed changes to the Plant Breeders' Rights Act and to join the 1991 Act of the UPOV Convention. However, this proposal spurred public debate. After the election in 2005, the new government withdrew the proposed changes in the PVP legislation on the grounds that they limited Farmers' Rights. At the same time, the breeding industry was promised to receive stronger government support for the development of varieties that are suitable to Norwegian conditions and adapted to climate change. Based on this agreement, farmers in Norway could continue to save and use farm-saved seed and propagating material of protected varieties without paying any remuneration to the holder of the plant variety protection right.

    Category: 10.Legal measures for the implementation of Farmers’ Rights, such as legislative measures related to PGRFA.

    Type of measure/practice: Legal

    218) Revision of regulations on plant variety release and the marketing of seed and seed potatoes

    Until 2004, the Norwegian seed regulation did not limit farmers' rights to save, use, exchange and sell farm-saved seeds to neighbors. However, as a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), Norway had to revise its seed regulations to comply with regulations of the European Union (EU); the revised regulation prohibited farmers to give away or exchange seeds. This situation raised concerns of farmers’, gardeners’ and civil society organizations as well as researchers in Norway and the EU. In 2008, the EU adopted a directive on conservation varieties, which entered into force in 2009. To comply with this new directive, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority proposed changes to three regulations, following an open dialogue with farmers’ organizations, other relevant organizations and researchers: the Regulation on testing and approving of plant varieties, the Regulation on seeds and the Regulation on seed potatoes. The purpose of these revisions, endorsed by the Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture and Food in 2010, was to better accommodate the use of a wider diversity of plant varieties with other objectives, like ensuring seed quality and health standards. "Contributing to in situ conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA" was added to the objectives of the three seed regulations.

    Category: 10.Legal measures for the implementation of Farmers’ Rights, such as legislative measures related to PGRFA.

    Type of measure/practice: Administrative; Legal

    219) Participation in decision-making

    Farmers and their organizations have a multitude of channels to participate in and influence on policy processes in Norway. For ex¬ample, there are annual negotiations between the Government and the farmers’ unions, resulting in the Annual Agreement on Agriculture. This agreement stipulates the financial support to agricultural purposes. Farmer cooperatives are major actors in Norway’s breeding and seed sector, offering opportunities for participation; the major breeding company as well as the main seed distributing company are owned by such cooperatives. There are also projects for developing new varieties with a high level of farmer participation. In addition, farmers are represented in the advisory board on plant genetic resources at the Norwegian Genetic Resource Centre, which aims to maintain close working relationships with farmer cooperatives and unions as well as with farmers who are actively involved in issues related to seed diversity and cultivation of traditional varieties. The reason is that all farmers do not necessarily have competencies or special interest in PGRFA. During the last few years, farmers cultivating traditional varieties, including loose networks of interested farmers, have become more organized. Through this development, it has become easier for the authorities to involve dedicated ‘diversity farmers’ in various processes.

    Category: 8.Farmers’ participation in decision-making at local, national and sub-regional, regional and international levels

    Type of measure/practice: Legal

    220) The Plant Heritage Award

    The Plant Heritage Award was created in order to support awareness, engagement and action to preserve and use plant genetic resources. It was awarded for the first time in 2006. The candidates are proposed to the Norwegian Centre for Genetic Resources at the Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO) and approved by its advisory board. The award is meant as an appreciation for special efforts that promote the goal of conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic diversity. It can be awarded to individuals as well as institutions and is not exclusively directed towards farmers. However, since it was established, several farmers have been awarded the prize, which consists of a unique lithography by a Norwegian artist as well as a diploma. Thus, the prize also recognizes the important efforts of farmers in addition to those of researchers and formal institutions in conserving PGRFA and ensuring sustainable use of those resources. It creates an annual event that gives an opportunity to strengthen awareness on the importance of conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA, thus addressing the general public, other farmers as well as the political leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, amongst other public institutions.

    Category: 1.Recognition of local and indigenous communities’, farmers’ contributions to conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA, such as awards and recognition of custodian/guardian farmers

    Type of measure/practice: Administrative; Others