Farmers’ Rights

Farmers’ rights in Global Commerce Policy

In this regard, farmers’ rights is: a concept developed by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) through the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources, adopted in 1983. The entries on trade policy are here. An interpretative resolution to the Undertaking passed in 1989 defines farmers ™ rights as “rights arising from the past, present and future contribution of farmers in conserving, improving and making available plant genetic resources, particularly those in the centres of origin/diversity”. The FAO says that farmers’ rights are not assigned to specific varieties, types of plants, or to specific farmers as, for example, intellectual property rights are. The purpose of farmers’ rights is to encourage farmers and farming communities to nurture, conserve, utilize and improve plant genetic resources. Farmers’ rights are therefore seen as a way to compensate farmers for improvements they have made over a long time, and for which they may not be able to benefit from protection through intellectual property rights. See also traditional knowledge.[1]

Farmers’ rightsin the wold Encyclopedia

For an introductory overview on international trade policy, see this entry.

Resources

Notes and References

1. Dictionary of Trade Policy, “Farmers’ rights” entry (OAS)

See Also