10/12/2018, 02:11

Liebe Unterstützende,
der Petent oder die Petentin hat innerhalb der letzten 12 Monate nach Ende der Unterschriftensammlung keine Neuigkeiten erstellt und den Status nicht geändert. openPetition geht davon aus, dass die Petition nicht eingereicht oder übergeben wurde.

Wir bedanken uns herzlich für Ihr Engagement und die Unterstützung,
Ihr openPetition-Team

03/12/2014, 14:43

Dear supporters of our petition,

the EU-Parliament published the results of yesterdays votings on the Commissions proposal for a seed regulation, and other topics.

The correct numbers are as following:

voting 6 on the Commissions proposal: 15 yes; 615 no, 13 abstained;
voting 7 on the request for a referral: 574 yes, 90 no, 10 abstained;
voting 8 on the legislative resolution: 511 yes, 136 no, 16 abstained
(please notice: it was 511 yes and not only 51 as in the last mail wrongly written)

If you are interested in the question who voted how, you find the results of roll-call votes here:
tinyurl.com/EP-voting-140311 on pages 16 to 21.

If anybody would like to translate this and the last mail into the petitions language, please feel free to do so and please send it to info@seed-sovereignty.org. Then I would post the translation to all the supporters.

best regards
Andreas Riekeberg

Campaign for seed-sovereignty
www.seed-sovereignty.org

03/12/2014, 10:17

Dear supporters!

We've made it! The Parliament of the EU has decided: the Commissions proposal for a seed regulation is politically dead. In yesterdays plenary session was adopted with 51 to 130 votes a legislative resolution, which rejects the proposal of 6 Mai 2013 very clear and calls the Commission to submit a new one.

Until the last moment it was unclear: would the Parliament adopt such a legally binding resolution or would it restrict itself to a simple appeal to the Commission to withdraw the proposal? This appeal in the so called rejection report got 650 to 15 votes. But the Parliament insisted in a voting on the legislative resolution with the above mentioned result.

By this the longstanding engagement of organisations and groups which are dedicated to the maintaining and broadening of diversity, which are working for farmers rights to produce, exchange and use their seed or which are breeding varieties for ecofarming was successful.

With this decision the Parliament gave ear to the many hundreds of thousands of people from many European countries which signed since April 2013 diverse petitions against the Commissions proposal. Alone our petition „seed diversity under threat“ got some 150.000 supporters in 12 different languages.

A big „THANK YOU“ to all of you!

Now it would be important to adopt the current – even restrictive – EU-seed-law to the demands of maintaining and broadening of diversity. By this there should be given a reasonable legal framework to the groups, organisations and individuals which are engaged in this, and these initiatives should be supported and not restricted. A first step could be the evaluation of the so called conservation directives 2008/62/EC and 2009/145/EC, which should be done (as the directive itself demands) until end of 2013.

On the other hand the official control of the seeds of the seed industry has to be ensured. Concentration processes through acquisitions and interdependence have led in the past 30 years to a dangerous market power of the major chemical and seed corporations. And the seed industry won't give up their aim. Yesterday the seed lobby ESA tried to disturb the audience be claiming that the decision taken by the Parliament is invalid by procedural mistakes, see kurzlink.de/esa-seedlaw-140311. Anyhow, ESA's Secretary General Garlich von Essen had to admit the strength of the opponents to the new seed regulation and has spoken of a "very, very strong campaign".

Now we have to wait and be aware of how the Commission and the Council react on the resolution of the Parliament – and we will be attentive to intervene if necessary. In the times of climate change and exhaustion of resources we need a reorientation in the demands to varieties. How long agriculture and horticulture will be able to afford high-input-varieties? In the long run we need varieties with a positive energy balance – for this we need a rethinking in the seed legislation, and for this the support of you all will be needed furthermore!

Best regards
Andreas Riekeberg

Campaign for Seed-Sovereignty
www.seed-sovereignty.org

03/10/2014, 00:57

Dear supporter!

On Tuesday is the big seed day in the EU-Parliament. It The EP will vote on their statement on the commissions proposal in plenary. What will happen?
Scenario A: The Parliament adopts a “non-legislative rejection”. This is just a postponement - just a show. In this scenario, the new parliament will continue the work after elections in May.

Scenario B: The Parliament adopts a LEGISLATIVE rejection. This would mean the political death of the seed regulation. On Monday evening, the major political groups will discuss the issue on and fix their position. A so called 1st reading.

It is VERY important to call them and demand a LEGISLATVIE rejection (Option B).
The draft for such an LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION is already tabled! You find it here: tinyurl.com/legislative-resulution-seedlaw or: www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+REPORT+A7-2014-0112+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN Please chose your language at the top of the page.

English text of the tabled legislative resulution:
"The European Parliament, ... 1. Rejects the Commission proposal;
2. Calls on the Commission to withdraw its proposal and submit a new one;
3. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments."

Please contact the relevant people per telephone.
1.) your national MEPs , see www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/map.html
2.) the rapporteurs see www.seed-sovereignty.org/PDF/2_List_rapporteurs.pdf
3.) The presidents of the Parliament, see www.seed-sovereignty.org/PDF/1_List_presidents.pdf You just need to click on them to obtain their phone numbers.

VERY IMPORTANT: Please note that Monday, 10. March, it’s the "Strasbourg session". This means: Until lunch: Make phonecalls in Brussels. After lunch: Make phonecalls in Strasbourg. It would be really important if you could call them!

There is still a chance to kick the proposal back! Let's use it!

Best regards
Andreas Riekeberg

Campaign for Seed-Sovereignty
www.seed-sovereignty.org

11/05/2013, 00:39

Dear Signatories of our petition „La diversita´delle sementi e´in pericolo: contro una regolamentazione europea dettata dall´industria“!

Altogether some 150.000 people are supporting the diverse version of the Petition. Thanks to all persons who signed the Italian version, it is closing on midnight! The maximum subscription period of six months for each version is prescribed by the platform "openPetition" and can not be extended. We also thank openPetition for providing the platform!


What is next ?

The petition will be handed over in Brussels during the course of the legislative process. When there will be the right time for this, that depends on further course.

So far, in the lead Agricultural Committee of the EU Parliament the rapporteur for seed legislation was set, it is Sergio Silvestris of the Italian PdL , a member of the EPP Group. He will formulate the report of the Committee on the proposed legislation to the House of Parliament. His draft see here: www.saatgutkampagne.org/PDF/Draft_Report_PRM.pdf There are also so-called shadow -rapporteurs of the other groups.

A first debate on the bill has taken place on 30.9., here's a look back: www.seed-sovereignty.org/PDF/MEPs_criticize_proposed_new_EU_seed_law.pdf . From the other groups came requests and criticism of the Commission proposal. In the end it will be important that the members of the EPP Group follow their conscience in the seed question and vividly interfere in the debate - and not bow to the party discipline, assumed to be set by Albert DESS from Bavaria, who is the coordinator of EPP group in the AGRI committee.

The next steps are now: the second debate in the Agriculture Committee on November 25&26 2013 and the submission of amendments until December 4 2013. After this date these amendments will be debated and voted. The first debate in the House of Parliament is scheduled for mid April 2014.

Besides this a working group of the Council of the EU currently meets on a monthly basis. There the member governments are represented, and they are preparing their position. If the results of the Parliament and Council are be different, a so-called "trialogue " between the EU Commission , Parliament and Council will be held.


What can I do myself more ?

a) Please keep yourself and others informed! May be you would like to watch and to screen our documentary "Resilient Seed" www.youtube.com/watch?v=unsC2SGdMBU or in French www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6Gg2kRV_Rs . You may pass this info on, read and distribute our brochure "Resilient Seed" www.saatgutkampagne.org/PDF/Resilient_Seed_EN_web.pdf or in French www.saatgutkampagne.org/PDF/Livret_semences_en_resistance_FR_web.pdf

b ) You could discuss in local groups on seed legislation. And for some more days the petition can be signed in Spanisch&English at www.openpetition.de/petition/online/amenaza-a-la-diversidad-de-semillas-no-a-las-normas-europeas-en-beneficio-de-la-industria-semillera#googtrans(de%7Ces)

c ) You may enter into conversation with EU parliamentarians: Write to MPs to which you have a geographic proximity, especially Silvestris and De Castro www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/it/agri/members.html#menuzone .
Please describe to them why the diversity of seeds and farmers seeds is important to you and what you require for the new seed legislation. You may refer to the „joint statement on the proposal on legislation about plant reproductive material“, www.seed-sovereignty.org/PDF/joint_statement_seed_legislation_2013-06-12_web.pdf If you inform us of reactions, we can go into it.

d) You could start or continue by yourself to save seeds. You may attend or organize seed-swaps - a great way to get in contact with like-minded people! Seed swaps are preferable from February to April or May.

e) visit www.seed-sovereignty.org We try to keep you informed!

Best regards
Andreas Riekeberg ,Campaign for Seed-Sovereignty
www.seed-sovereignty.org
Email: info@seed-sovereignty.org

11/04/2013, 23:46

Chers signataires de notre pétition " La diversité des semences est en danger – contre le nouveau règlement européen ! "

Avec globalement quelque 150.000 signatures à la fin de la période de souscription de la pétition a eu une bonne réponse . Merci à tous ceux qui ont signé ! La période maximale de six mois est prescrit par la plate-forme " openPetition " et ne peut pas être prolongé. Nous remercions également openPetition pour fournir la plate-forme !


Quel est le prochain ?

La pétition sera remise au cours du processus législatif à Bruxelles. Quand il y aura le bon moment pour cela, il faut poursuivre les cours. Jusqu'à présent, le rapporteur de la législation semencière a été mis à la commission agricole de plomb du Parlement européen ( Sergio Silvestris du PdL italien , membre du Groupe du PPE ) . Il formulera le rapport de la commission sur le projet de loi à la Chambre du Parlement. Il ya aussi ce qu'on appelle rapporteurs fictifs des autres groupes . Un premier débat sur ​​le projet de loi a eu lieu à 30,9 , voici un regard en arrière : www.seed-sovereignty.org/PDF/2013-10-14_FR_MPE_critiquent_la_proposition_pour_une_legislation_de_semences.pdf . Des autres groupes venus des demandes et des critiques de la proposition de la Commission. En fin de compte , il sera important que les membres du Groupe du PPE suivre leur conscience dans la question des semences et interfèrent de façon éclatante dans le débat - et non se plier à la discipline de parti, supposé être fixé par Albert DESS de Bavière.

Les prochaines étapes sont maintenant: le deuxième débat de la commission de l'agriculture sur 11/25-26/2013 et la présentation des amendements jusqu'au 12/04/2013 . Après cette date, ces amendements seront débattus et votés . Le premier débat à la Chambre du Parlement est prévue pour la mi Avril 2014.

En outre un groupe de travail du Conseil de l'Union européenne se réunit actuellement une fois par mois . Là, les gouvernements des pays membres sont représentés, et qu'ils préparent leur position. Si les résultats du Parlement et du Conseil sont soit différente, une soi-disant « trilogue » entre la Commission européenne , le Parlement et le Conseil se tiendra .


Que puis-je faire moi-même plus ?

a) Informez-vous et d'autres! Regardez et filtrer notre Doku «Semences en résistance» www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6Gg2kRV_Rs . Passer cette info sur , lire et distribuer notre brochure www.saatgutkampagne.org/PDF/Livret_semences_en_resistance_FR_web.pdf

b ) entrer en conversation avec les parlementaires de l'UE : écrire aux députés pour lesquels vous disposez d'une proximité géographique www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/fr/agri/members.html#menuzone . Expliquez pourquoi la diversité des semences et des agriculteurs des semences est important pour vous et ce que vous avez besoin pour la nouvelle législation sur les semences . Reportez-vous à la « déclaration commune sur la proposition de loi sur le matériel végétal de reproduction " , www.seed-sovereignty.org/PDF/joint_statement_seed_legislation_2013-06-12_web.pdf Si vous nous informiez de réactions , nous pouvons y entrer.

c) Commencez par vous-même pour sauver les semences ! Assister ou organiser des semences swaps - un excellent moyen d'entrer en contact avec des personnes partageant les mêmes idées ! Swaps de semences sont préférables de Février à Avril .

d) visiter www.seed-sovereignty.org/FR Nous essayons de vous tenir au courant !

Cordialement
Andreas Riekeberg
Campagne pour la souveraineté sur les semences
www.seed-sovereignty.org
Email: info@seed-sovereignty.org

10/29/2013, 23:33

Ciao,

avete firmato la petizione "La diversitá delle sementi é in pericolo: contro una regolamentazione europea a favore dell´industria".

Grazie!

Fino ad ora ci sono solo un paio di firmatari dall’ Italia. Sembra che ci sia solo poca consapevolezza pubblica per la legislazione seme della UE. Questo sarebbe un vero peccato - due membri importanti della commissione per l'agricoltura del Parlamento europeo sono italiani. L'uno è il presidente della commissione, Paolo di Castro, e l'altro è il relatore per la normativa sulle sementi, Sergio Silvestris.

Riunione di commissione per l'agricoltura e lo sviluppo rurale 30-09-2013: bifurcatedcarrots.eu/euparl/agri30sept_it.wmv

Sfortunatamente entrambi agiscono a favore del settore delle sementi. Per questo il processo di legislazione seme UE ha bisogno di piú consapevolezza pubblica in Italia. Avete la possibilità di informare altre persone sull' importanza della legislazione seme?

Potrebbe darsi che i vostri amici e colleghi vogliono esprimere la loro richiesta di una politica dell'UE a favore della diversità delle sementi e a favore dei sementi controllati dai agricoltori stessi.

En questo caso siete pregati di invitarli a firmare la petizione qui www.openpetition.de/petition/online/la-diversitadelle-sementi-ein-pericolo-contro-una-regolamentazione-europea-dettata-dallindustria#googtrans(de%7Cit)

Alcuni dei commenti alla petizione da firmatari

“Importante per l'essere umano preservare la biodiversità alle generazioni future.”

“Salvaguardare le sementi vuol dire salvaguardare la vita degli essere umani ed essere padroni del proprio futuro e destino.”

“La biodiversita' è la vita .Impoverire la biodiversita' è togliere vita.“

“Perché nel futuro la biodiversità potrebbe fare la differenza tra morire di fame o vivere per milioni di persone. Come cuoca professionista poi ritengo la biodiversità un tesoro di gusto insostituibile”

“Ho sempre ribadito che la sovranità alimentare di ogni popolo è la base principe, irrinunciabile, la madre di tutte le sovranità sui cui pilastri si costruisce la crescita e il benessere di ogni popolo. Non permetteremo in alcun modo la eliminazione delle sementi che non siano di ''gusto della UE''. Il mondo agricolo continui ad usare e a selezionare quelle sementi biocompatibili con i propri paesi e del proprio clima perché non ci faremo intimidire. Ci hanno rubato la sovranità monetaria ma non la alimentare. Fuori da questa UE al comando della Cupola. Ogni Paese sia sovrano di se stesso.”

Migliori saluti
Andreas Riekeberg

Campagna per la sovranità sulle sementi
www.seed-sovereignty.org
info@www.seed-sovereignty.org

10/20/2013, 15:59

Aggiunta la traduzione in francese
Neuer Petitionstext: Egregi membri della Commissione,
Egregi membri del Parlamento,
Egregi membri del Consiglio!

Nuove direttive per la regolamentazione delle sementi sono in fase di elaborazione a Brussel. Se i piani del Direttivo Generale per la Salute e la protezione dei Consumatori si realizzeranno, molte antiche e rare varieta´di frutta, verdure e cereali spariranno dal mercato. L´utilizzo di tali varieta´, cosi´come quello di altre varieta´adattate all´agricoltura biologica rischia di essere bloccato dalla burocrazia, che rafforza invece il potere delle multinazionali agricole.

I testi tuttora disponibili per la nuova regolamentazione europea delle sementi promuovono la concentrazione del mercato delle sementi nelle mani di un ristretto numero di industrie sementiere multinazionali. Tutto cio´e´inaccettabile. Una nuova regolamentazione europea deve promuovere la diversita´, le varieta´adatte ad una produzione agricola di stampo contadino nonche´la riproduzione delle sementi in agricoltura biologica. Molteplici varieta´devono riamnere a disposizione della collettivita´non solo nelle banche del genoma, ma anche nel libero mercato, senza restrizioni burocratiche.

Per questo esigiamo: nessun obbligo di registrazione! I criteri di registrazione attualmente in vigore devono inoltre essere ammorbiditi per le varieta´che, grazie alla propria diversita´, risultano piu´appropriate ad una coltivazione biologica. Questo permettera´alla nostra agricoltura di continuare ad adattarsi al cambiamento cliamtico, a nuove epidemie e malattie ed a stili di vita piu´ecologici.

Ne´l´attuale regolamentazione europea, ne´le proposte di legge sinora disponibili adempiono i criteri sopracitati. Esse rappresentano, al contrario, una minaccia per un´alimentazione sostenibile e servono unicamente gli scopi dell´industria agrochimica.

Vi sollecitiamo con urgenza a respingere qualsiasi proposta di legge che non adempia i suddetti criteri!
Poniamo fine alla distruzione della diversita´dell´agricoltura e dell´ orticoltura in Europa!


La diversité des semences est en danger – contre le nouveau règlement européen !

A Bruxelles, un nouveau règlement sur les semences est en préparation. Si les plans de la Direction générale pour la Santé et les Consommateurs se réalisent, encore plus de variétés rares et anciennes de fruits, de légumes et de céréales disparaîtront du marché. Les chicanes bureaucratiques visant les semences de diversité augmentent, tandis que le pouvoir de l’industrie agrochimique est renforcé.

Les projets connus jusqu’ici pour un nouveau règlement de l’UE encouragent la concentration des semences aux mains de très peu de compagnies semencières. Cela est inacceptable. Un nouveau règlement autour des semences doit garantir de bonnes conditions pour les semences de diversité, les variétés paysannes et les sélections biologiques. Les semences de diversité doivent être disponibles sans obstacles bureaucratiques non seulement dans le banque de gènes mais aussi sur le marché.

Pour cela nous demandons qu’il n’y ait pas d’enregistrement obligatoire officiel ! De plus, les conditions actuelles pour l’enregistrement des variétés pour l’agriculture biologique doivent être simplifiées, parce que notre agriculture doit s’adapter aux changements climatiques, aux nouvelles maladies, aux nouveau parasites et à un mode de vie plus écologique.

Ni la législation actuelle, ni le projet de loi officieux ne remplissent ces demandes. Ils menacent la diversité de semences et l’héritage agro-culturel de l’humanité, ils attaquent les systèmes alimentaires durables et l’agriculture écologiques et ils servent les intérêts de l’industrie agrochimique.

Nous demandons aux membres de la Commission, du Parlement et du Conseil de l’UE de refuser toute les propositions de règlement de semences qui ne remplissent pas ces demandes.

Non à la destruction de la diversité des variétés agricoles et jardinières !

Pour plus d’information voyez les sites web des organisations qui ont initiées cette pétition :
- Campagne pour la souveraineté sur les semences: www.seed-sovereignty.org/FR/index.html
- Forum civique Européen : www.forumcivique.org/fr/theme/nutrition_et_politique_agricole
- German umbrella organisation for crop and livestock diversity („Dachverband Kulturpflanzen- und Nutztiervielfalt e.V.“): www.kulturpflanzen-nutztiervielfalt.org/node/29

10/17/2013, 02:42

Neuer Petitionstext: Egregi membri della Commissione,
Egregi membri del Parlamento,
Egregi membri del Consiglio!

Nuove direttive per la regolamentazione delle sementi sono in fase di elaborazione a Brussel. Se i piani del Direttivo Generale per la Salute e la protezione dei Consumatori si realizzeranno, molte antiche e rare varieta´di frutta, verdure e cereali spariranno dal mercato. L´utilizzo di tali varieta´, cosi´come quello di altre varieta´adattate all´agricoltura biologica rischia di essere bloccato dalla burocrazia, che rafforza invece il potere delle multinazionali agricole.

I testi tuttora disponibili per la nuova regolamentazione europea delle sementi promuovono la concentrazione del mercato delle sementi nelle mani di un ristretto numero di industrie sementiere multinazionali. Tutto cio´e´inaccettabile. Una nuova regolamentazione europea deve promuovere la diversita´, le varieta´adatte ad una produzione agricola di stampo contadino nonche´la riproduzione delle sementi in agricoltura biologica. Molteplici varieta´devono riamnere a disposizione della collettivita´non solo nelle banche del genoma, ma anche nel libero mercato, senza restrizioni burocratiche.

Per questo esigiamo: nessun obbligo di registrazione! I criteri di registrazione attualmente in vigore devono inoltre essere ammorbiditi per le varieta´che, grazie alla propria diversita´, risultano piu´appropriate ad una coltivazione biologica. Questo permettera´alla nostra agricoltura di continuare ad adattarsi al cambiamento cliamtico, a nuove epidemie e malattie ed a stili di vita piu´ecologici.

Ne´l´attuale regolamentazione europea, ne´le proposte di legge sinora disponibili adempiono i criteri sopracitati. Esse rappresentano, al contrario, una minaccia per un´alimentazione sostenibile e servono unicamente gli scopi dell´industria agrochimica.

Vi sollecitiamo con urgenza a respingere qualsiasi proposta di legge che non adempia i suddetti criteri!
Poniamo fine alla distruzione della diversita´dell´agricoltura e dell´ orticoltura in Europa!

10/11/2013, 22:39

I membri del Parlamento europeo criticano legge seme nuova proposta / MEPs criticize proposed new EU seed law

Preliminary note: If anyone could translate the following text into Italian, please send it to me (info@seed-sovereignty.org) I will then send it to all the signatories of this petition.

The Campaign for Seed Sovereignty recognizes the criticism of the proposed EU seed regulation (www.seed-sovereignty.org/PDF/EU_COM_proposal_PRM_IT.pdf ) following the statements by some MEPs in the AGRI committee of the EU-Parliament.

In their meeting on Monday, the 30th of September Martin HÄUSLING (Greens/EFA; Germany), Ulrike RODUST (S&D; Germany), Britta REIMERS (ALDE; Germany) and Karin KADENBACH (S&D; Austria) took the floor and criticized the strengthening of the concentration in the seed market and the large number of delegated acts. They asked for the deregulation of small producers, and for the transparency of breeding methods.

John Stuart AGNEW (EFD; UK) stressed the need for the exclusion of private persons from the scope of the regulation. Marc TARABELLA (S&D; Belgium) asked for free of seed exchange between farmers. Georg LYON (ALDE; UK) asked if the new regulation would really be a simplification.

In favor of the proposed regulation was rapporteur Sergio SILVESTRIS (EPP; Italy) and Herbert DORFMANN (EPP; Italy). Astonishingly both seemed unable or unwilling to differentiate between registration of varieties and the certification of PRM-lots. Even the shadow rapporteur Luis Manuel CAPOULAS SANTOS (S&D; Portugal) pledged his support for the proposal, who chose to focus on the identity of varieties and sanitary aspects, both issues referred to by Silvestris in his reply to the statements of the other MEPs.

Officer POUDELET of the DG SANCO from the EU-commission clarified the point of farmers seeds: “If a farmer is selling seed to another farmer, in other words there is a sale involved with a profit motive, than clearly he has got to go through the certification hoops”. This intensification of control over farmers seeds was an issue addressed by the Campaign for Seed Sovereignty just before the AGRI-meeting.

Watch the video of the meeting with an Italian translation here bifurcatedcarrots.eu/euparl/agri30sept_it.wmv

On 24th of November the seed regulation will be again on the agenda of COM-AGRI. It is important to send strong messages to the members of the committee with our demands; the scope of the regulation has to be the marketing of seeds above certain limits, farmers seeds and seeds of diversity varieties have to be excluded from the scope of the regulation, organic varieties need special registration procedures and we demand transparency concerning modern breeding methods!

Preoccupazioni forti sulla proposta / Strong concerns over the proposal

For the first time not only is the marketing of seeds in the scope of the European seed law, but also potentially the production of seeds. The effect would be that farms and nurseries, which are producing seeds for themselves of for the exchange with their neighbors, are under the regulation and would be obliged to keep information on many of their activities (paragraphs 6 – 8 of the proposal). This would be a heavy burden, especially for subsistence farming in eastern and southern Europe. It's very important for all farmers to have the ability to resow their own seeds, without legal barriers or administrative burden.

Besides this, a regulation would have much more impact than the current directives. A European regulation doesn't leave space for local interpretation or implementation, so it's not possible to adopt it to specific demands of the agricultural structures in member states.

Furthermore the basic problem of the reform of the EU seed law is the preferential treatment of highly homogeneous and highly stable DUS varieties. These varieties are adopted to agrochemicals and to the processing conditions of the food industry, which demand uniform, transportable and storable crops. This will only cause further contraction of agricultural biological diversity in Europe.

This change in seed policy should focus on the support and stimulation of real diversity in seed varieties. Important are varieties which are adopted to the regional conditions of soil and climate, those suited to home and artisanal processing, as well as those which provide a diversity of tastes and have a broad genetic base. To continue the current principles of seed legislation, to extend the scope of the seed law and to keep the DUS varieties as a standard, would mean the acceleration of the erosion of agricultural biodiversity, and put the nutritional basis for the coming age into jeopardy.

La lettera aperta “La diversita´delle sementi e´in pericolo: contro una regolamentazione europea dettata dall´industria” può essere firmata qui: tinyurl.com/sementi-in-pericolo