Seed is our human right!

Description

The aim of this project is to develop public awareness that the right to seeds is a human right and to ensure that it is recognized through the legal framework, and thus the right of all Croatian citizens to quality, affordable locally produced food. Also, the goal is to recognize the importance of the informal sector (growing seeds for own needs, exchanges among producers and organizing community seed banks as part of the civil sector) in the protection and development of plant genetic resources, according to UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) documents. The new draft of the Seed law, which was adopted at the end of 2020 at the session of the Croatian Government, opened Pandora''s box, encroaching on the right to grow seeds for the farm''s own needs. The Initiative "Seeds is our human right" mobilized a large number of citizens and sought dialogue with the institutions, but no consensus was reached. The parliamentary procedure has already begun and the next two months will be a critical period in which significant decisions need to be made on how the disputed Article 16 will be amended. The Initiative wants to take an active watch dog role in this process in order to monitor it and ensure respect for farmers'' rights to basic seed resources as well as to participate in decision-making on genetic resources. The planned activities are the development of an expertise on the possible effects of regulations that the legislator failed to prepare, the launch of a facilitated process of reaching consensus through a round table and public advocacy. The main beneficiaries of the project are agricultural producers whose fate is being decided, citizens and institutions involved in the process. The project will offer a better, reasoned dialogue on possible solutions leading to Better Regulation Agenda principles promoted by European Commission and Croatian government. The partners have been equally involved in the Initiative from the very beginning.

Summary of project results

The project aimed to address several critical issues regarding agricultural law and the rights of farmers in Croatia. These challenges are as follows:

1. New Legislation on Seed Regulation:

   • The proposed draft of the Seed, Planting Material, and Agricultural Crop Variety Recognition Act introduced new regulations that, contrary to common practices in Europe, would restrict the production of "family farm seeds" and limit the cultivation of seeds for personal use. This was seen as a direct infringement on the rights of farmers, especially in rural areas, and a threat to food sovereignty in Croatia.

2. Violation of Farmer Rights:

   • The project sought to address the violation of farmers'' rights to access, use, and save seeds, which are protected as basic human rights by international agreements such as the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Despite Croatia''s ratification of this treaty, the proposed law failed to recognize and protect these rights adequately.

3. Impact on Local Agricultural Practices:

   • The initiative highlighted how the law would significantly harm local agricultural practices. Many farmers, especially in poorer regions, rely on saving and exchanging seeds for personal use. The proposed law would make this illegal, limiting their ability to produce food and increasing dependency on external seed suppliers. This was particularly concerning for the more than 57,000 vegetable and potato producers and 155,000 crop farmers in Croatia.

4. Concentration of Seed Market:

   • The project raised concerns about the high concentration of the European seed market, where only seven corporations control most of the supply. Croatia''s local seed production is insufficient to meet domestic needs, leading to reliance on seed imports. In 2019, Croatia imported seeds worth 11.9 million dollars, further escalating concerns over food sovereignty and reliance on external sources for seeds.

5. Threat to Genetic Diversity:

   • The initiative also stressed the risk to genetic diversity of crops, as the law''s administrative limitations would undermine the ability to cultivate and preserve a range of indigenous seed varieties. This issue was compounded by the practice of inspections targeting organizations that aim to protect and maintain this diversity, with authorities wrongly labeling their activities as illegal seed market practices.

6. Social and Economic Inequality:

   • The project also focused on social and economic inequalities in rural areas, where 30.9% of the rural population is at risk of poverty and social exclusion. Farmers in these areas, who often have limited resources, rely on producing seeds for their own use due to the high cost of purchasing commercial seeds, which can be up to five times more expensive.

7. Lack of Public Consultation and Transparency:

   • The initiative criticized the lack of adequate public consultation on the law. The public consultation period was shortened to 15 days, rather than the legally required 30 days, and failed to provide measurable indicators in the preliminary impact assessment of the law. This lack of transparency and public involvement raised concerns about the legitimacy of the decision-making process.

8. Inadequate Dialogue with Authorities:

   • Despite significant public mobilization, including over 400 comments in the consultation process and support from 135 associations and 31,000 concerned citizens, the Ministry of Agriculture only engaged in dialogue after the law was already passed by the government. The lack of meaningful dialogue and consensus-building was a major issue for the initiative, as it felt that the concerns of farmers and citizens were largely ignored in the decision-making process.

Overall, the project aimed to protect the rights of farmers in Croatia, ensure food sovereignty, and advocate for policies that respect both local agricultural practices and international human rights commitments regarding seed and plant genetic resources. The initiative sought to influence the legislative process and ensure that the final law would support the needs of Croatian farmers while safeguarding the genetic diversity of crops.

The project focused on advocating for the recognition of seeds as a fundamental human right and ensuring that the right to seeds and plant genetic resources is enshrined in Croatian law. The key activities and outputs of the project included:

1. Public and Media Campaigns:

   • The project generated significant visibility in the public eye and the media, raising awareness about the importance of seed rights and food sovereignty.
   • This contributed to achieving the main goal: to ensure that seed rights are recognized as a fundamental human right for all Croatian farmers and citizens, thereby securing access to high-quality, locally produced food.

2. Advocacy and Legal Change:

   • Through public campaigns, a roundtable discussion, and direct negotiations, the project successfully influenced amendments to the Seed Law. Specifically, Article 16 of the draft law was modified to recognize the right to seed.
   • The initiative also adopted an active "watchdog" role, closely monitoring the legislative process to ensure that farmers'' rights to basic seed resources were respected and that they had a voice in decisions regarding genetic resources.

3. Research and Expert Support:

   • The project produced an expert report on the potential impacts of the proposed law, which had been overlooked by lawmakers. This analysis provided valuable input for discussions and helped guide the decision-making process.

4. Roundtable and Consensus-Building:

   • A roundtable on seed rights was organized, bringing together various stakeholders, including farmers, NGOs, experts, and government representatives, to discuss the issue and build consensus on the need for legal protections for seed rights.
   • Direct meetings with the Ministry of Agriculture helped further the dialogue, ensuring that the Ministry was aware of the concerns and potential consequences of the proposed law.

5. Public Action and Engagement:

   • The project organized public actions such as seed exchanges and online campaigns, engaging citizens in discussions about seed rights and food sovereignty.
   • These actions helped increase public awareness and gather support for the initiative.

6. Stakeholder Involvement:

   • The project actively engaged with a broad range of stakeholders, including farmers, citizens, scientific communities, FAO representatives, and government institutions such as the Croatian Parliament and Ministry of Agriculture.
   • Key beneficiaries of the project included farmers, who would benefit from the legal recognition of seed rights, as well as Croatian citizens who rely on access to locally produced, affordable food.

7. Dialogue with the Ministry of Agriculture:

   • Through ongoing discussions, the project also raised other important issues related to the seed market, such as market restrictions on seed sales and the role of the informal sector in preserving plant genetic resources.
   • The Ministry of Agriculture was made aware of the stricter seed regulations in Croatia compared to EU standards, which hindered local seed production.

8. Progress and Next Steps:

   • The final meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture on May 12, 2021 resulted in a positive outcome regarding the recognition of the right to seed and biodiversity conservation.
   • Minister expressed a commitment to further explore constructive suggestions made by the project, with a view to finding mutually beneficial solutions for the future of Croatian agriculture.

Through these activities, the project made significant strides toward securing the recognition of seed rights as a fundamental human right, influencing policy changes, and creating lasting dialogue between civil society and government bodies. The work is ongoing, with continued efforts to ensure that the final law adequately protects farmers'' rights and promotes food sovereignty in Croatia.

The project achieved significant outcomes through collaborative efforts, public engagement, and policy advocacy to promote the right to seed and plant genetic resources. Key results and impacts include:

1. Increased Visibility and Public Support:

   • The initiative received widespread public attention, thanks to media support and the involvement of various stakeholders, including NGOs, citizens, consumers, farmers, and institutions.
   • Public campaigns were successful in raising awareness about the importance of seed rights, with the right to seed gaining widespread support across different sectors.
   • The project built visibility and credibility by collaborating with numerous partner organizations such as Kopriva Koprivnica, Knjižnica Labin, and Eko Zadar, and others across the country, organizing public lectures, workshops, and roundtable discussions.

2. Effective Collaboration with Stakeholders:

   • The project fostered strong collaborations with a wide range of stakeholders, including farmers, government bodies, academia, and public institutions.
   • Significant cooperation was achieved with the Agricultural Faculty of Zagreb, Croatian Agricultural Chamber, and the Agricultural Committee of the Croatian Parliament, helping to solidify the project’s standing as a serious and influential player in the legislative process.
   • The project created new partnerships and synergies with other organizations, which helped expand the initiative’s reach and effectiveness.

3. Impact on Policy and Legislative Change:

   • The project played a critical role in advocating for the right to seed to be recognized in the proposed changes to Croatia''s Seed Law. As a result, a significant amendment was made to Article 16, ensuring the recognition of seed rights within the legislation.
   • The project also organized a roundtable discussion with key policy-makers, including members of the Croatian Parliament, where they presented their concerns and recommendations, influencing the law’s development.

4. Engagement of Volunteers:

   • The project saw the active participation of volunteers, who contributed to various aspects of the campaign, such as translation, designing visuals for social media, and assisting with event organization.
   • Volunteers also played an important role in raising awareness and helping with seed donation collections, which further increased the campaign''s reach.

5. Seed Donations and Community Support:

   • Public events served not only as awareness-raising opportunities but also as fundraising platforms. The project organized seed donation drives for the Banovina region, which was severely impacted by an earthquake.
   • Donated seeds were collected and distributed through ICBB (Banovina Seed Bank), which contributed to the community recovery and promoted solidarity within the agricultural community.

6. Impact on Farmers and Local Communities:

   • The project directly involved farmers in research and discussions about the proposed law, giving them a platform to voice their concerns and opinions.
   • Farmers benefited from the increased recognition of their right to seed and were provided with a better understanding of how these legislative changes could impact their livelihoods and the broader agricultural landscape in Croatia.

7. Public Engagement and Support:

   • The initiative successfully engaged the public, particularly farmers and consumers, in dialogues about seed sovereignty. The campaigns and events saw positive feedback from citizens, demonstrating a shared concern about seed rights and food sovereignty.
   • The public’s involvement in the campaign, including the distribution of free seeds at events, further promoted the message and helped solidify public support for the initiative.

In summary, the project effectively mobilized a broad range of stakeholders and achieved its main goal of ensuring seed rights are recognized as a human right in Croatian law. It also raised public awareness, created new collaborations, and contributed to policy changes that will positively impact farmers, local communities, and Croatia’s food sovereignty.