We’re pleased to share the below recording of Seed Commons & Ownership: A Listening Session on Intellectual Property Rights that was held back in November. Organic Seed Alliance and co-hosts Vermont Law School’s Center for Agriculture and Food Systems and National Center for Appropriate Technology, were joined by over 110 farmers, seed growers, seed companies, plant breeders, gardeners, and researchers for this 90-minute listening session focused on intellectual property rights (IPR) used on seed.
IPR decisions affect all growers, regardless of how they farm or garden (organic or otherwise) and have very real ethical and cultural implications for community seed systems. Listening session hosts invited participants to answer the following questions: How does IPR impact your farming operation, gardening pursuits, and plant breeding or research? What questions do you have about IPR, and what resources do you need? What resources do you already have? Are there opportunities for improving how IPR is used in the seed system?
This is part of a listening session series aimed to gather input from farmers, gardeners, seed growers, seed companies, plant breeders, and other food and farming community members to discuss the areas of intellectual property rights (IPR), excluded methods in organic production, and GMO contamination. Mark your calendars to join us for the next two scheduled sessions:
- A Listening Session on Excluded Methods in Organic Production
December 16, 2020 from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm Mountain Time / 1:00 – 2:30 pm Eastern Time - The Integrity of Food Begins with Seed: A Listening Session on GMO Contamination
January 19, 2021 from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm Mountain Time / 1:00 – 2:30 pm Eastern Time
