Protecting Chile’s Future Protecting Chile’s Food

22 de abril de 2023

Protecting Chile’s FutureProtecting Chile’s Food

UPOV ’78 vs. UPOV ’91:Chile’s Critical Social Choice

Rima E. Laibow, MDPresentation to the

Chilean Agricultural Commission

Natural Solutions FoundationAn Independent International NGO

1

Natural Solutions Foundation 2

Farmers Protect Biodiversity

Food, Biological Diversity and Intellectual Property:The Role of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) – 2011 Report of QUNO

(Quaker UN Office)

“Biological diversity is essential and … of central importance for food security.”


Future Impact Is Enormous

Law 19.342 Adopted UPOV ’78 (1994) Benefits BOTH Plant Breeders and Farmers

BUTConvenio UPOV ’91 Damages Farmers, Benefits ONLY Plant

Breeders

Farmer Security = Food Security


Community-based farming has high social value, helps prevent:

• Single variety (mono crop) failures• Genetic erosion, loss of genetic diversity• Destabilization of social fabric• Disruption of food supply continuity

Farmer Security = Food Security

Natural Solutions Foundation5

Community-based farming has high social value, helps prevent:

• Loss of community, cultural stability• Monopolistic food practices• Centralized food control• Artificial food shortages

UPOV ’78 vs. UPOV ’91



Chile Currently Accepts UPOV ’78• Chile can retain UPOV ’78

ONLY IF ’91 NOT adopted• If ’91 adopted, ’78 is

NEVER an option again

One Way Street: UPOV ’78 ’91


• Breeder can seize entire crop if he believes rights have not been paid by farmer

• Breeder can force farmer to destroy crop, seed, implements at farmer’s own expense

UPOV ’91



• Breeders may develop, market, sell commercial seed rights

• Farmers must have license to use, propagate seeds


UPOV ’91



• Breeders may develop, market, sell commercial seed rights

• Farmer’s right to purchase, use, propagate (personal use) seeds is unrestricted

UPOV ’78

UPOV ’78 Protects Diversity


UPOV ’78 Breeders rights are protected

• Develop seeds for commercial use

• Patent new varieties

UPOV ’78 Protects Diversity


UPOV ’78 Farmers have permanent right to:

• Save seeds for private use

• Improve seed

UPOV ’91 Threatens Diversity


UPOV ’91 Without specific legal exemption,

farmers may not:• Save seeds for private use • Improve seed

UPOV ’91 Threatens Diversity


UPOV ’91 Encourages

• Legal assaults against farmers (per US experience)

• Food insecurity

UPOV ’78 vs. UPOV ’91


Protects Protects

Violates Protects

UPOV ’78

UPOV ’91

Farmer’s Rights Breeder’s Rights

UPOV ’91 Threatens Food Security


“UPOV… [’91 ] is out of step with societal concerns about long-term food security, protection of biological diversity, and farmers’ rights…”

Food, Biological Diversity and Intellectual Property:The Role of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) – 2011 Report of QUNO

(Quaker UN Office)

Chile’s Critical Social Choice


Protect Breeder’s RightsUPOV ’91

Protect Farmer’s Rights UPOV ’78

OR

Natural Solutions Foundation


Natural Solutions Foundation Recommendations

1. Continue UPOV ’78, reject UPOV ’91 as Norway has done

2. Protect Farmer’s Rights3. Protect and encourage small scale,

natural and organic farming



4. Full examination by the following Agencies before Law No. 19.342 is considered for adoption:

a. Environmental Commissionb. Health Commissionc. Human Rights Commission

Recommendations



“UPOV ’91 establishes corporate control and genetic uniformity, not natural diversity, promoting irreversible genetic erosion and contamination, concentration of economic power …



… and continuing violations of human rights at the expense of Chile’s farmers, food and security. Rejecting UPOV ’91 and maintaining UPOV ’78 offers Chile the only logical option to protect her future.”

Rima E. Laibow, MD

Thank You For Your Attention


Rima E. Laibow, MDMedical Director

Natural Solutions [email protected]

Natural Solutions Corporation Chile SPA+56 22 229-3317

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

Protecting Chile’s Future Protecting Chile’s Food