Industry lobbying failed in the last few meters
Brussels, Vienna, Schiltern (OTS) – Big impact yesterday late evening in Brussels: Contrary to the forecasts, the Environment Committee in the EU Parliament narrowly but clearly voted for seed diversity in Europe. “The Environment Committee is committed to ensuring that seeds can be passed on unhindered for the purpose of conservation and has fended off the industry’s attempt to criminalize the farmer’s passing on of seedlings
“, says Magdalena Prieler, seed law expert at ARCHE NOAH, summarizing the vote. Recently, parts of the European People’s Party and the liberal Renew Europe group have managed to adopt sensible voting behavior.
Yesterday’s decision brings important tailwind for diversity. There is now hope that active conservation organizations such as ARCHE NOAH or public gene banks will in the future be able to pass on seeds to farmers without quantitative restrictions outside the scope of seed law. The implementation of an essential NOAH ARCHE demand is now in sight. The Environment Committee has also advocated that farmers be allowed to sell their own seeds and planting material, albeit with some restrictions. This would make it much easier to pass on seed-proof traditional seeds.
In the days before yesterday’s vote, a surprising number of “alternative compromise amendments” appeared, a large package of previously unknown and dangerous changes to the proposed law, apparently the result of massive lobbying by the agrochemical industry. “However, despite industry lobbying, the Environment Committee has made clear and, in our view, very positive guidelines for further parliamentary work: diversity must be excluded from the scope of the new seed law and consistently promoted
“, demands Magdalena Prieler.
In its vote yesterday, the EU Environment Committee based its vote on the “Food and Biodiversity Package” that the EU Commission presented in July 2023. With the new regulation, the EU Commission basically intends to adapt the outdated seed law to the goals of the European “Green Deal”, but the proposed law fails in many areas due to its own demands. “The agriculture ministers and the EU Parliament must change course! We need more diversity on our fields and plates to counteract the climate and biodiversity crisis and to produce tasty, healthy food! The vote by the Environment Committee is a first step in the right direction,” says Prieler.
On March 19, 2024, the leading agriculture committee will vote on EU seed law in Brussels. At the same time, the Council of Agriculture Ministers is negotiating changes to the proposed law. “Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig now has a lot to do: He must demand farmers’ right to seeds and protect crop diversity from over-regulation and patents! Diversity is our most important tool for overcoming these challenges
“, summarizes Magdalena Prieler.
Questions & Contact:
ARCHE NOAH, Society for the Preservation and Spread of Cultivated Plant Diversity
Axel Grunt
Head of Communications
+43 680 2379245
axel.grunt@arche-noah.at
Magdalena Prieler
Consultant for seed policy
+43 676 7750132
magdalena.prieler@arche-noah.at
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Inquiries to press@arche-noah.at
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