Ecuador Grassroots Launch Fight Against GMO Seed Firms

[Judi Lynn]

Ecuador Grassroots Launch Fight Against GMO Seed Firms
Published 20 July 2016 (6 hours 22 minutes ago)

At stake is not just the future of small and sustainable agriculture in Ecuador, but also the food sovereignty of all humanity.


Ecuador's campesinos and civil society have launched a campaign to protect food sovereignty against transgenic firms, as they seek to impose intellectual property rights on seeds which campesinos have been cultivating for centuries.

The campaign comes as Ecuadorean lawmakers debate a new Seed Law in the National Assembly, which could possibly empower transgenic firms to patent traditional seeds which have been used by small farmers for years.

To address the risk, campesino groups encouraged Ecuadorean citizens to register with electoral authorities before Tuesday April 19, so they can participate in a public forum on the issue which lawmakers have agreed to hold before the formal vote.

More:
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Ecuador-Grassroots-Launch-Fight-Against-GMO-Seed-Firms-20160720-0024.html

Environment & Energy:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1127103581

[Warpy]

1. Nothing that exists in nature should be patentable

Now if substances are refined out, like Lanoxin from digitalis plants, that's something different. The plant itself should never be patentable.

I hope Ecuador addresses this one quickly.