The file attached below is a Q&A sheet about this, which is quite useful for grasping the gist of the existing laws and some of the main features of what is proposed.
However, it's difficult to get an appreciation of the raft of issues surrounding this topic, in the context of attempts to achieve "sustainable intensification". (See my other blog post about this specific term).
There appear to be some vociferous objectors railing against the rights of big companies to exert their ownership of plant varieties through the controls over seeds. On the other hand, there are supporters of these rights pointing out the benefits of the controls in ensuring quality and continuing availability of the varieties owned in this way (some of which are GMO), which arguably improve food security.
Who's right?
And how much of a compromise is there between the need for sustainability in agriculture and and the need for sufficient total output to feed a growing global population?
eu-proposal_aphp_en-plant-reproductive-materials-proposal-may-2013-q-and-a.pdf |