The plant breeders bill would give corporations such as monsanto rights above the laws of ghana. National campaign against upov plant breeders bill food. Plant breeding capacity building in africa nature climate. Public hearings were conducted on the on the plant breeders rights and plant improvement bills. How ghana stands to gain from plant breeders bill how ghana stands to gain from plant breeders bill. The proposed legislation contains rules that would restrict farmers from an ageold practice. This system is mainly concentrated in northern ghana, for crops such as maize, rice and cowpea. Namibia financial institutions supervisory authority bill 8. African plant breeders association launched in ghana avisa. Whilst drawing the attention of critics of the plant breeders bill to the provisions of the biosafety act, the speaker said it was import that parliament considered the.
Implications of plant breeder bill on breeding activities. Plant species and varieties west africa seed catalog. Pdf plant breeders rights what you are not told hillary m. The national parliament is due to return from its summer break and first thing on the agenda is the governments plant breeders bill. Impacts of geneticallymodified crops and seeds on farmers pdf. The goal of the african plant breeding academy is to train practicing african plant breeders in the most advanced theory and technologies for plant breeding in support of critical decisions for crop improvement. I believe the new alliance can make an important contribution to tackling the underlying causes of poverty and hunger in africa, promoting growth in african agriculture through coordinated public. Alliance for science pushes for passage of plant breeders. A comprehensive overview of investments and human resource capacity in african agricultural research nienke beintema and gertjan stads april 2017 research program on policies, institutions, and markets led by ifpri. This includes the latest concepts in plant breeding, quantitative genetics, statistics and experimental design.
Read on for a fascinating examination of aflatoxin in ghana and the different roles we can play across society in tackling it. Food sovereignty ghana calls on parliament to completely withdraw the upovcompliant plant breeders bill and replace it with a sui generis plant variety protection pvp system suitable to our conditions. The association said what even saddened it was that the ministerdesignate managed to convince the committee that food. In 20, ghana passed the plant breeder bill, a sui generis system. Nov 06, 2017 plant breeders bill the plant breeders bill, which was put before parliament in 20, went through the first and second consideration stages but was put on hold at the third stage when a pressure. Pdf implications of plant breeder bill on breeding activities in. In concurrence with the frimpongboateng campaign for public education on gmo inclusion, food sovereignty ghana filled suit against the national biosafety authority board for its plans to proceed with the introduction of gm products on the local market. However, as a requirement, ghana has developed a plant breeders rights bill, which is currently before its parliament awaiting passage.
The plant breeders bill makes a gift of ghana s land and agriculture to the agribusiness tncs. The proposed plant breeders bill of ghana and the food. Pdf implications of plant breeder bill on breeding. Peasant farmers have called on parliament to undertake proper consultation before passing the plant breeders bill in order to ensure that the interests of farmers are considered. Plant breeders rights bill as introduced in the national assembly proposed section 76. Download article as pdf the african plant breeders association apba was launched recently to bring together plant breeders from several african nations to work towards achieving food security in africa through breeding. Plants breeders bill, which would allow bt application has generated polarised public debate adenle, 2014. We analyse media content on how bt is viewed in the context of ghana s parliamentary debate on the plant breeders bill and within the broader public policymaking literature. Ghanaian queen mothers slums plant breeders bill news ghana. Owusuafriyie akoto the peasant farmers association of ghana pfag has expressed disappointment in the attempt by the ministerdesignate of agriculture and some vetting committee members to misinform ghanaians about the implication of the plant breeders bill.
The queenmothers association in the brong ahafo has appealed against the passage of the plant breeders bill and the promotion of genetically modified organisms gmo in the country. Covering the objectives, scope, protection requirements, and examination provisions, the chapter compares the plant breeders rights system with the patent system and attempts to clarify specific puzzling issues. Even as citizens, our rights are subject to the laws of ghana, not independent of it. Ghana can protect plant breeder rights without necessarily opting for upov 91. Collaborating with faculty at makerere university in uganda, university of kwazulunatal in south africa, and kwame nkrumah university of science and technology in ghana and with funding from the bill and melinda gates foundation, our project team created a number of tools and resources to enhance delivery of the plant breeding in elearning in. Local scientists recount loss in the absence of plant. Passage of the ghana plant breeders bill will encourage investments for the development of superior varieties of staple crops urgently needed in farmers fields to spark a green revolution in. Specifically, they are asking the government to reintroduce the plant breeders bill, which is expected to help make the country more competitive in the seed industry and ensure food security. The parliamentary select committee on environment, science and technology has recommended to parliament to reintroduce and pass the plant breeders bill to protect the intellectual rights of seed. The proposed plant breeders bill of ghana and the food sovereignty conundrum. There are three principal types of vegetation from south to north occurring in the coastal savanna, in the forest zone, and in the northern savanna zone. The business of plant breeding is the result of a study on demandled plant variety design for markets in africa, sharing the best practices from private and public sector breeding programmes worldwide that are applicable to improving tropical crops in africa.
This paper discusses the most probable implications of the plant breeder bill on breeding activities in ghana. Jul 10, 2014 the plant breeders bill is all about gmos. Dr sagri bambangi, deputy minister of food and agriculture in ghana, urged the breeders to begin conversations on securing the food future of. We particularly demand responses to these fundamental objections to the plant breeders bill. Apply for plant breeders rights south african government. Local scientists recount loss in the absence of plant breeders law local scientists recount loss in the absence of plant breeders law. Domestically, the indian legislation which takes up the issue of plant breeders rights is the protection of plant varieties and farmers rights act, which was passed by the parliament in 2001 after a decade long process of drafting and redrafting due to the criticisms of peoples organizations, in particular those representing the. When completed, these videos will be available through the uwmadison plant breeding and plant genetics program website below. Battling the monsanto law in ghana new internationalist. Agriculture ministerdesignate misinformed parliament on. Far from simply dealing with the rights of the plant breeder, the bill is designed to preempt the laws of ghana and prevent farmers from freely. Publish report on consultations over plant breeder s bill. We seriously need to do everything in our power to pressure parliament to drop the upovcompliant plant breeders bill currently under consideration.
Food sovereignty demands parliaments report on plant. Plant breeders bill the plant breeders bill, which was put before parliament in 20, went through the first and second consideration stages but was put on hold at the third stage when a pressure. Nollywood star actor, jim iyke has spoken about his much publicised relationship with actress, nadia buari. Prof richard tuyee awuah gives the keynote address at the official launch of aflasafe gh02. Parliament distorts opposition to plant breeders bill. Implications of plant breeder bill on breeding activities in. In 20, ghana drafted the plant breeders act, a sui generis. Food sovereignty ghana fsg has met with the parliamentary committee on constitutional, legal and parliamentary affairs over the plant breeders bill. Plant breeders rights bill b11d2015 south african government. We would also like to see in the report, what justification, if any, lies behind the inclusion of clause 23 in the plant breeders bill which makes the rights of the plant breeder independent of the laws of ghana. Ayenan and others published implications of plant breeder bill on breeding activities in ghana.
Jan 31, 2017 owusuafriyie akoto the peasant farmers association of ghana pfag has expressed disappointment in the attempt by the ministerdesignate of agriculture and some vetting committee members to misinform ghanaians about the implication of the plant breeders bill. Mar 30, 2016 food sovereignty ghana fsg, has called on the speaker of parliament to order the publication of a report on the consultations that the selectcommittee on constitutional, legal, and parliamentary affairs undertook on the plant breeders bill pbb. Economics and environment nepal, national farmers union canada see. Opportunities and threats to harmonisation of plant. Financial institutions and markets bill film bill 7. Plant breeders rights is one of the links in the plant variety development chain and an important tool for governments to support agricultural development and food security. Another area that has been under significant discussion is plant breeders rights protection, or plant variety p pvp. A comprehensive overview of investments and human resource. The african plant breeders association apba was launched recently to bring together plant breeders from several african nations to work towards achieving food security in africa through breeding. They will be available for download in a format suitable for portable video players, and will also be available in a higher resolution on dvds. Oct 20, 2014 this week, farmers in ghana are on the frontlines of a battle. With this law, the tncs can flood ghana with gmos and demand ghana pay the price they set. This proposed provision creates the possibility of the regulator providing more space for smallholder farmer practices within the farmers privilege in south africa.
Parliament calls for reintroduction of plant breeders bill. Plant breeders have for sometime now been engaged in the development of improved crop varieties, usually using local varieties and landraces obtained from smallholder farmers. Few years back, the two stars were said to be in a serious relationship, but jim told. Despite adoption of bt in neighbouring burkina faso vitale, glick.
Replace plant breeders bill with a sui generis pvp. All of these objections apply equally to the aripo arusha pvp protocol, a treaty version of the exact same bill. Pro plant breeders right bill opinions have indicated that gmos and the bill are unrelated. Plant breeders rights pbr, also known as plant variety rights pvr, are rights granted to the breeder of a new variety of plant that give the breeder exclusive control over the propagating material including seed, cuttings, divisions, tissue culture and harvested material cut flowers, fruit, foliage of a new variety for a number of years.
Chapter 1 the origins of plant variety protection and upov fao. We will investigate gmo agendaparliament news ghana. In the future it is expected that nsta will play that role, and it holds the potential to be a voice for a growing industry going. If it is given bad publicity and is labelled as a gm product as some ghanaians and the press did for political expediency with the plant breeders bill, it will trigger negative. We find the inclusion of the plant breeders bill in these series a strange. The plant breeders bill, among other things, is to ensure a genetic diversity of food crops but has faced strong resistance from farmer groups, the. An act to provide for the grant and protection of plant breeder rights and for related matters. Ghana trips over the trips agreement on plant breeders. We analyse media content on how bt is viewed in the context of ghanas parliamentary debate on the plant breeders bill and within the broader public policymaking literature.
Although ghana is not a signatory member of the international union for the protection of new varieties of plants convention upov convention, there is explicit evidence that the plant breeders rights pbr s bill under consideration in the ghanaian parliament contains provisions modelled on the upov act 1991 rather than the potentially. Ghana is sleepwalking into selling our birth rights. Control of importation and exportation of d airy products and dairy products substitutes amendment bill 5. The plant breeders act seeks to establish a legal framework to promote the breeding of new plant varieties and improve food production in ghana adenle, 2014. The bill has not been enforced yet but several benefits for farmers, breeders and agriculture in the country have been predicted.
It says passing the bill into law is crucial to ensuring food security and improving the lives of farmers. Passed by parliament and assented to by the president. Food sovereignty ghana fsg, has called on the speaker of parliament to order the publication of a report on the consultations that the selectcommittee on constitutional, legal, and parliamentary affairs undertook on the plant breeders bill pbb. The african centre for biosafety noted, speaking firstly to the plant breeders rights bill, that the south african seed sector was worth r5. Plant breeding capacity building in africa request pdf. There has been controversy with their use their since then.
Food sovereignty ghana calls on parliament to completely withdraw the. Dr sagri bambangi, deputy minister of food and agriculture in ghana, urged the breeders to begin conversations on securing the food future of africa through plant breeding. Peasant farmers kick against plant breeders bill ghana. Fsg considers this as a clear insult to the respectable organisations that have so far petitioned parliament over the plant breeders bill. African plant breeders association launched in ghana cgiar. The parliamentary select committee on environment, science and technology has recommended to parliament to reintroduce and pass the plant breeders bill to. Media release february 6, 2018 official opening of the. Unfortunately, the plant breeders right bill pbb of ghana is one of the bills that has suffered vicious attacks especially from civil society organizations csos. Civil society group alliance for science ghana is appealing to president akufoaddo to help ensure passage of the plant breeders right bill into law. Farmers organizations, plant breeding and seed industry. The bill which seeks empower crop breeders to earn. Jun 29, 2016 although ghana is not a signatory member of the international union for the protection of new varieties of plants convention upov convention, there is explicit evidence that the plant breeders rights pbr s bill under consideration in the ghanaian parliament contains provisions modelled on the upov act 1991 rather than the potentially. So far, the farmers and people of ghana have stopped passage of the plant breeders bill in parliament.
Biotechng bt cotton in ghana false claims and legal sleight of hand on bt cotton in ghana false claims and legal sleight of hand. Consult table 1 of the plant breeders rights act, 1976 act 15 of 1976 to establish whether the kind of plant is declared if the kind of plant is not in the table, submit a request for declaration with a motivation in writing to the registrar for plant breeders rights. Abstractthis paper examines the highly contested and ongoing biotechnology bt policymaking process in ghana. This paper does not seek to take a position on bt or the bill, but to understand how policy actors. Ghana trips over the trips agreement on plant breeders rights in. Grassroots antigmo movements in ghana, including the group food sovereignty ghana fsg, are vehemently protesting the plant breeders bill, a piece of legislation that if passed could make it very difficult for small farmers to retain control over their seeds. The peasant farmers association of ghana pfag, has called on government and parliament to halt the passage of the plant breeders bill pbb and to ensure further consultations with farmers. The university of ghana determined to change this by establishing the west africa centre for crop improvement wacci in 2007, in partnership with. Aug 07, 2019 wouldbe plant breeders often chose to pursue ms and phddegree programs in the usa or europe, and more than half of these did not return to africa to practice their profession once graduated. Genetically modified food were introduced to ghana by the ghanaian government in 20. This bill pbr seeks to establish a legal system for protection of plant breeders rights in order to put in place a mechanism for rewarding plant breeders.
Ghana stood to lose its voting rights because the country had not. The bill would end ghana s full sovereignty and independence as a nation, enable biopiracy, and outlaw traditional farming practices. What you are not told pla t breeders ights is o e of the li ks i the pla t variety development chain and an important tool for. Opportunities and threats to harmonisation of plant breeders. Activist groups including food sovereignty ghana, the coalition for farmers rights, advocacy against gmos, ghana catholic bishops conference, convention peoples party, and various individuals have argued against its introduction. This week, farmers in ghana are on the frontlines of a battle. The plant breeders bill is designed to impose genetically modified organisms into ghana s food chain, a move that could change our entire agricultural system. Plant breeders rights bill b112015 share this page. Save ghanas sovereignty and our food supply news ghana. Opportunities and threats to harmonisation of plant breeders rights in africa. Food sovereignty ghana charges house speaker ghnewsnow on audio fsg interview with radio xyz on the need for further consultations on the plant breeders bill. Pass plant breeders bill now parliament urged general.
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