Bifurcated Carrots » Seeds

The EU Commission is proposing legalizing and regulating NGTs. I’m cautiously optimistic, and think this will be a useful tool for seed savers and others working in biodiversity. NGTs are mutag...

https://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2023/07/new-genomic-techniques-ngts/

Access and Benefits Sharing This is currently at the heart of The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). In principle, what it means is that the world’s genetic resources are available for e...

https://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2021/10/why-access-and-benefits-sharing-is-neither/

In October Convention of Biological Diversity delegates will travel to Kunming for the delayed Conference of the Parties. In the hope my opinion matters, here’s a wish list of what I think need...

https://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2021/05/kunming-cbd-wish-list/

Starting with the economic crisis of 2007-2008, Alex Ikonomidis wrote, produced, directed, shot and edited the film A Seed for Change. In total the film represents 7 years of work. It’s a very ...

https://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2020/07/a-seed-for-change-3/

I was just told about this in an email. The Vermont Law School has released a publication on defensive publishing to prevent patents. I’m not any sort of expert in patent law, but this looks li...

https://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2020/01/defensive-publishing-may-protect-seeds-from-patents-in-the-us/

There have been some announcements over the last few months regarding changes to Dutch agriculture. These are not only important to people living in the Netherlands, but all over the world, since...

https://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2019/06/changes-underway-with-dutch-farming/

In the wake of the 2008 worldwide economic crisis, filmmaker Alexandros Ikonomidis watches his optimism and income fade away as he comes to the realization that he is unable to sustain himself an...

https://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2019/01/a-seed-for-change-2/

I have been looking at some of the seed offerings coming out for 2019. I came across this listing, and it’s given me some thought. If you compare it for example to this: I would assume both the...

https://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2019/01/more-on-ossi-clarity-and-risks/

Bayer seems to be wrapping up their purchase of Monsanto, but investors are not impressed. $289 Million Verdict The first in a series of lawsuits over Monsanto’s glyphosate based weedkiller Rou...

https://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2018/10/bayer-needs-an-aspirin/

Nagoya Protocol Article 15.1: “Each Party shall take appropriate, effective and proportionate legislative, administrative or policy measures to provide that genetic resources utilized within it...

https://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2018/10/the-war-on-seeds/

In the past few weeks I’ve had some more thoughts about OSSI.  What I wrote about OSSI before was pretty stark, and I want to offer some ideas for the way forward for everyone.  No one has to...

https://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2018/10/ossi-followup-seed-movement-in-general/

Due to come into force Jan 2021, and replace the existing organic legislation, if anything the new EU Organic Regulation is a step backwards.  Together with the CBD, the red tape will be too muc...

https://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2018/10/eu-organic-regulation-a-ridiculous-farce/

The OSSI is a mechanism to facilitate the privatization of the world’s agricultural biodiversity.  It’s no different from what the US Seed Savers Exchange and similar organizations have beco...

https://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2018/07/why-im-against-the-open-source-seed-initiative-ossi/

The old paradigm was a battle between civil society (us) and the food industry (them).  On both sides were agricultural scientists, playing an active role in both advocacy, and practical matters...

https://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2018/06/biodiversity-and-democracy/

In short, the CBD is the privatization of biodiversity. According to this treaty, all biodiversity is owned by someone; sometimes nations and sometimes privately.  One thing for sure, the CBD is...

https://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2018/06/convention-on-biodiversity-cbd/