ROME, 24 March 2025 --“ Apart from being ignored and marginalized, the most difficult challenge that the farmer seed systems faced currently is the threat caused by policies that limit farmers’ rights to save, use, exchange and sell farm-saved seeds,” said SEARICE executive director Normita Ignacio at the “Launch of the Third Report on the State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture” see link which took place during the side-event at the Twentieth Regular Session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Commission).
Established in 1983, the Commission is the only permanent intergovernmental body that specifically addresses all biodiversity for food and agriculture. The Commission offers a unique platform for its members and other stakeholders, promoting a world without hunger by fostering the use and development of the whole portfolio of biodiversity important to food security and rural poverty.
Ignacio discussed the important role of the farmers’ seed systems in the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) in her intervention at the event which was top billed by the Commission Secretary, Manoela Pessoa de Miranda; FAO Deputy Director of the Plant Production and Protection Division, Chikelu Mba; FAO Information Management Officer, Stefano Diulgheroff; Secretary of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Kent Nnadozie; among others.
Ignacio recalled, “Six years ago, February 22, 2019 to be exact, I had the privilege to speak during the launch of the first report on the The State of the World’s Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture. I think many of you were also present in that momentous event when I asked the questions:
How many more research, studies, and assessments are needed before we act? And will the efforts of smallholder food producers remain merely recognized and not reciprocated with genuine support?”
These questions are not only relevant to PGRFA but moreover, these are very urgent and critical questions in the light of the findings reflected in the 3rd report of the State of the World’s PGRFA. The report highlights that although some progress in the efforts to conserve PGRFA, the threat continues, particularly to farmer varieties and landraces.
For over 45 years, SEARICE has been collaborating with smallholder farmers in at least eight countries in Southeast Asia through governments, CSOs, and schools to implement sustainable food systems with special emphasis on the conservation and sustainable use of agricultural biodiversity and in implementing farmers’ rights.
"Ignacio noted, 'In our operational countries, farmer seed systems provide 80-90% of the seed supply. However, due to persistent marginalization and, in some cases, direct threats from misguided policies and programs, many farmers who previously supplied high-quality seeds to resource-poor farmers have ceased sharing and selling seeds, fearing legal repercussions from laws intended to protect vulnerable groups.'"
“We all recognize the important role of the farmers’ seed systems in the conservation of PGRFA. But how do we translate that recognition into concrete actions? How many national plant breeding programs includes capacity building for farmers as co-equal partners in plant breeding? How many ex-situ and in-situ conservation efforts are directly linked with community-based seed conservation and management?”, Ignacio added.
“The questions I asked six years ago and the questions I asked now beg to be answered with concrete and targeted actions. I do hope that we will not wait for another six years or another report from the CGRFA before we address the issues at the core. The Commission has spent enormous time and efforts to come up with this comprehensive report. We should not just read it. We should act and address the issues highlighted in the report before it’s too late”, Ignacio closed.
The “Launch of the Third Report on the State of the World’s PGRFA ” was a side-event held at the start of the Twentieth Regular Session of the Commission this year.
The Commission keeps under continuous review all matters relating to the policy, programs and activities in the area of genetic resources of relevance to food and agriculture and advises governments and FAO’s governing bodies. Over 350 delegates and observers attend this session and make some critical decisions that will guide the future work of the Commission.