Grassroots antigmo movements in ghana, including the group food sovereignty ghana fsg, are vehemently protesting the plant breeders bill, a piece of legislation that if passed could make it very difficult for small farmers to retain control over their seeds. Welcome to the national association of plant breeders napb website. I believe the new alliance can make an important contribution to tackling the underlying causes of poverty and hunger in africa, promoting growth in african agriculture through coordinated public. Plant breeders rights pbr, also known as plant variety rights pvr, are rights granted to the breeder of a new variety of plant that give the breeder exclusive control over the propagating material including seed, cuttings, divisions, tissue culture and harvested material cut flowers, fruit, foliage of a new variety for a number of years. This proposed provision creates the possibility of the regulator providing more space for smallholder farmer practices within the farmers privilege in south africa.
Asante pointing to flaws in the plant breeders bill special report 31 august 2014. In 20, ghana drafted the plant breeders act, a sui generis system. This week, farmers in ghana are on the frontlines of a battle. Food sovereignty ghana fsg has met with the parliamentary committee on constitutional, legal and parliamentary affairs over the plant breeders bill. Download article as pdf the african plant breeders association apba was launched recently to bring together plant breeders from several african nations to work towards achieving food security in africa through breeding. The bill would end ghana s full sovereignty and independence as a nation, enable biopiracy, and outlaw traditional farming practices. Misconceptions about the plant breeders rights system. Even as citizens, our rights are subject to the laws of ghana, not independent of it. Farmers rights at heart of plant breeding ip debate. Jan 31, 2017 owusuafriyie akoto the peasant farmers association of ghana pfag has expressed disappointment in the attempt by the ministerdesignate of agriculture and some vetting committee members to misinform ghanaians about the implication of the plant breeders bill. The parliamentary select committee on environment, science and technology has recommended to parliament to reintroduce and pass the plant breeders bill to protect the intellectual rights of seed. Welcome national association of plant breeders napb. Scientists are asking government to reintroduce for approval the plant breeders bill to help make the country more competitive in the seed industry and ensure food security.
Ghana s government is desperate to pass a plant breeders bill that would remove farmers ancient seed freedom to grow, retain, breed and develop crop varieties while giving corporate breeders a blanket exemption from seed regulations. Farmers organizations, plant breeding and seed industry in. The proposed legislation contains rules that would restrict farmers from an ageold practice. Updated plant breeders rights bill spoor and fisher. Plant breeders have for sometime now been engaged in the development of improved crop varieties, usually using local varieties and landraces obtained from smallholder farmers. Specifically, they are asking the government to reintroduce the plant breeders bill, which is expected to help make the country more competitive in the seed industry. Civil society organizations, smallholder farmers, the media, scientists and concerned members of. Mahama demands fairness in distribution of governments free food 17 covid19 patients recover ghana health service another significant increase sends ghana s covid19 cases to 636. The goal of the african plant breeding academy is to train practicing african plant breeders in the most advanced theory and technologies for plant breeding in support of critical decisions for crop improvement.
Parliament calls for reintroduction of plant breeders bill. Collaborating with faculty at makerere university in uganda, university of kwazulunatal in south africa, and kwame nkrumah university of science and technology in ghana and with funding from the bill and melinda gates foundation, our project team created a number of tools and resources to enhance delivery of the plant breeding in elearning in. Memorandum to ghana s plant breeders bill stated that the object of the proposed law was to acknowledge the achievements of breeders of new varieties by making available to them an exclusive right on the basis of a set of uniform and clearly defined principles republic of ghana, 20, at i. African plant breeders association launched in ghana cgiar.
Pdf implications of plant breeder bill on breeding activities in. This bill pbr seeks to establish a legal system for protection of plant breeders rights in order to put in place a mechanism for rewarding plant breeders. Oct 20, 2014 this week, farmers in ghana are on the frontlines of a battle. The reason for these very divergent opinions basically could stem from inadequate or lack of awareness and understanding of the spirit of the bill. Institute in bunso may become less and less free and the institute may get additional. One example of these efforts is the plant breeders bill, which. Food sovereignty ghana organized a capacity building and skills sharing workshop on 2728 february to discuss the biosafety law, the plant breeders bill and the plant and fertilizer act seed law. However, the number of such breeders is limited 3,4. Dr sagri bambangi, deputy minister of food and agriculture in ghana, urged the breeders to begin conversations on securing the food future of africa. If it is given bad publicity and is labelled as a gm product as some ghanaians and the press did for political expediency with the plant breeders bill, it will trigger negative. Peasant farmers kick against plant breeders bill ghana. Compulsory licences an application for a compulsory licence will be heard by the registrar of plant breeders rights. On the 19th of june 2014 faithbased organizations, in collaboration with action aid ghana, centre for indigenous knowledge and organizational development and peasant farmers association of ghana with sponsorship from star ghana.
Domestically, the indian legislation which takes up the issue of plant breeders rights is the protection of plant varieties and farmers rights act, which was passed by the parliament in 2001 after a decade long process of drafting and redrafting due to the criticisms of peoples organizations, in particular those representing the. Mar 30, 2016 food sovereignty ghana fsg, has called on the speaker of parliament to order the publication of a report on the consultations that the selectcommittee on constitutional, legal, and parliamentary affairs undertook on the plant breeders bill pbb. Supporting social movement struggles against free trade and investment agreements. Kwasi etubonde said the bill is crucial for economic growth, noting ghana is currently losing a lot of money to other countries because of the absence of the legislation. Plant breeders rights in south africa are governed by the plant breeders rights act, 15 of 1976 as amended. Pdf implications of plant breeder bill on breeding.
Ghana urged to pass law to encourage improved seed. National campaign against upov plant breeders bill food. Nov 06, 2017 plant breeders bill the plant breeders bill, which was put before parliament in 20, went through the first and second consideration stages but was put on hold at the third stage when a pressure. However, as a requirement, ghana has developed a plant breeders rights bill, which is currently before its parliament awaiting passage. Specifically, they are asking the government to reintroduce the plant breeders bill, which is expected to help make the country more competitive in the seed industry and ensure food security. Ayenan and others published implications of plant breeder bill on breeding activities in ghana. The bill has not been enforced yet but several benefits for farmers, breeders and agriculture in the country have been predicted. We dont need genetically modified foods agyin asare.
In 20, ghana drafted the plant breeders act, a sui generis. In the future it is expected that nsta will play that role, and it holds the potential to be a voice for a growing industry going. For instance, in ghana, both the plant breeders bill and its predecessor, the plant and fertilizer act 2010, are designed to allow for, and promote, the breeding of foundation seeds by the private sector, a task previously held solely by state breeders. Pro plant breeders right bill opinions have indicated that gmos and the bill are. Dr sagri bambangi, deputy minister of food and agriculture in ghana, urged the breeders to begin conversations on securing the food future of africa through plant breeding. For example, in 30 ssa countries, the average is about 5 breeders per country to cover all crops. Opportunities and threats to harmonisation of plant breeders. He cited maize and palm oil as two main crops that ghana is losing a lot from because there is no plant breeder s bill. In 20, the government of ghana brought a proposed plant breeders bill pbb to parliament for scrutiny and passage into law. This includes the latest concepts in plant breeding, quantitative genetics, statistics and experimental design. The african plant breeders association apba was launched recently to bring together plant breeders from several african nations to work towards achieving food security in africa through breeding. The plant breeders bill, among other things, is to ensure a genetic diversity of food crops but has faced strong resistance from farmer groups, the.
The plant breeders bill is designed to impose genetically modified organisms into ghana s food chain, a move that could change our entire agricultural system. Plant breeders rights bill b112015 share this page. But everyone is taking it free without paying a dividend to ghana. The parliamentary select committee on environment, science and technology has recommended to parliament to reintroduce and pass the plant breeders bill to.
Plant breeders bill the plant breeders bill, which was put before parliament in 20, went through the first and second consideration stages but was put on hold at the third stage when a pressure. I read all the feedback you send me on linkedin, twitter, instagram and facebook. The national parliament is due to return from its summer break and first thing on the agenda is the governments plant breeders bill. Ghana urged to pass law to encourage improved seed breeding. The university of ghana determined to change this by establishing the west africa centre for crop improvement wacci in 2007, in partnership with. Controversy over plant breeders rights bill in ghana. Section 31c of the 20 bill, which sought to make breach of a licence granted under a plant breeders rights bill an act of infringement, has been deleted in the 2015 bill.
Battling the monsanto law in ghana new internationalist. Baako takes on the government and parliament of ghana who are working hard to pass a bill that many believe would. We are in full agreement with this request, and pray on you to heed the call. South africa is party to the 1978 act of the upov convention. Prospective analysis find, read and cite all the research you. Ghana stood to lose its voting rights because the country had not. Food sovereignty ghana charges house speaker ghnewsnow on audio fsg interview with radio xyz on the need for further consultations on the plant breeders bill. Feb 12, 2015 the bill also gives plant breeders the right to use existing varieties in their own varietal development programs. African plant breeders association launched in ghana avisa. Agriculture ministerdesignate misinformed parliament on. Plants breeders bill, which would allow bt application has generated polarised public debate adenle, 2014. Plant breeding capacity building in africa nature climate. Covering the objectives, scope, protection requirements, and examination provisions, the chapter compares the plant breeders rights system with the patent system and attempts to clarify specific puzzling issues. Difference between conventional breeding of plants and.
This paper discusses the most probable implications of the plant breeder bill on breeding activities in ghana. The plant breeders bill is based on the upov convention 1991 and, following its adoption, the government intended to ratify and become a member of the upov convention 1991 see question 22. Reflections on intellectual property benefitsharing in. Hit me up on social media and lets keep the conversation going. Difference between conventional breeding of plants and genetically modified organisms gmos.
The proposed plant breeders bill of ghana and the food. Aug 07, 2019 wouldbe plant breeders often chose to pursue ms and phddegree programs in the usa or europe, and more than half of these did not return to africa to practice their profession once graduated. Napb began as an initiative of the plant breeding coordinating committee pbcc. Their view is that the bill will allow breeders to protect their intellectual property and will inject investment into plant breeding in ghana which will be in the interest of farmers and the seed. So far, the farmers and people of ghana have stopped passage of the plant breeders bill in parliament. The council also examined the plant breeders bill of ghana, which was presented to the ghanaian parliament, and decided that changes made during the first reading of the bill by the parliament in june 20 did not affect the substantive provisions of the 1991 act of the upov convention. On september 30, 2014, food sovereignty ghana fsg, an advocacy group focusing on farmers rights, cropbreeding and the use of genetically modified organisms gmos in ghanaian agriculture, among other things, wrote a vociferous critique against passing the plant breeders bill of ghana. Chapter 1 the origins of plant variety protection and upov.
For example, in 30 ssa countries, the average is about 5 breeders per country to cover all crops, agroecological zones, and uses 2. Passage of the ghana plant breeders bill will encourage investments for. Manual content analysis involves scrutinising all material text. The bill seeks to acknowledge the achievements of breeders of new varieties by. Ghana is in serious danger from the plant breeders bill currently before parliament. Implications of plant breeder bill on breeding activities in ghana. The act provides for the granting of rights in respect of varieties of various prescribed kinds of plants. Pass plant breeders bill now parliament urged graphic. Another area that has been under significant discussion is plant breeders rights protection, or plant variety p pvp. Publish report on consultations over plant breeder s bill.
Apply for plant breeders rights south african government. Dr sagri bambangi, deputy minister of food and agriculture in ghana, urged the breeders to begin conversations on securing the food future of. The plant breeders bill, which was put before parliament in 20, went. The pbcc official committee scc 080 is a forum for leadership, regarding issues, problems, and opportunities of longterm strategic importance to the contribution of plant breeding to national. Plant breeders rights bill b11d2015 south african government. Oct 26, 2016 however, the number of such breeders is limited 3,4. The past week has been a busy one for ghana s food rights and democracy groups. Plant breeders rights bill as introduced in the national assembly proposed section 76. In concurrence with the frimpongboateng campaign for public education on gmo inclusion, food sovereignty ghana filled suit against the national biosafety authority board for its plans to proceed with the introduction of gm products on the local market.
Genetically modified food were introduced to ghana by the ghanaian government in 20. Ghanas farmers battle monsanto law to retain seed freedom. Also, feel free to throw at me topics youd like to read on the macroeconomic bulletin. We would also like to see in the report, what justification, if any, lies behind the inclusion of clause 23 in the plant breeders bill which makes the rights of the plant breeder independent of the laws of ghana. Ghana trips over the trips agreement on plant breeders. Save ghanas sovereignty and our food supply news ghana. This is my third paper on the bill, after why ghana must adopt the plant breeders rights system and plant breeders rights bill of ghana. Pdf this study assessed the level of awareness and knowledge among major. The representatives included food sovereignty ghana fsg, peasant farmers. African plant breeders association launched in ghana. Plant breeders bill the plant breeders bill, which was put before parliament in 20, went through the first and second consideration stages. Farmers organizations, plant breeding and seed industry. Despite adoption of bt in neighbouring burkina faso vitale, glick. Following completion of a plant breeding cycle which usually runs over several stages and seasons, breeders seed of plant varieties with.
The association said what even saddened it was that the ministerdesignate managed to convince the committee that food. Food sovereignty demands parliaments report on plant. Consult table 1 of the plant breeders rights act, 1976 act 15 of 1976 to establish whether the kind of plant is declared if the kind of plant is not in the table, submit a request for declaration with a motivation in writing to the registrar for plant breeders rights. The title of their petition declared, ghanas plant breeders bill lacks legitimacy. Jul 10, 2014 the plant breeders bill is all about gmos. Plant species and varieties west africa seed catalog. Jun 29, 2016 although ghana is not a signatory member of the international union for the protection of new varieties of plants convention upov convention, there is explicit evidence that the plant breeders rights pbr s bill under consideration in the ghanaian parliament contains provisions modelled on the upov act 1991 rather than the potentially. The plant breeders act seeks to establish a legal framework to promote the breeding of new plant varieties and improve food production in ghana adenle, 2014. Owusuafriyie akoto the peasant farmers association of ghana pfag has expressed disappointment in the attempt by the ministerdesignate of agriculture and some vetting committee members to misinform ghanaians about the implication of the plant breeders bill. A list of prescribed plants is available on request. Food sovereignty ghana in march issued a statement saying it was stunned and disappointed to learn that the plant breeders bill was returning to the floor of ghana s parliament. The plant breeders bill would give corporations such as monsanto rights above the laws of ghana. Implications of plant breeder bill on breeding activities. Aug, 2019 ghana is on track to literally digitise the whole country, and that is great.
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