A network of concerned citizens, civil society groups, faith, and farmer-based organisations, Zambia Alliance for Agroecology and Biodiversity (ZAAB) , working together to strengthen the growing movement for agroecology and food sovereignty, has questioned the government’s failure to disclose the proposed new Plant Breeders Rights (PBR) Bill.
By Alfonso Kasongo (Lusaka, Zambia)
ZAAB maintains that the controversial bill is inappropriate for the country and must not be enacted as it aligns Zambia with the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) 1991 standards.
The consortium fears that, if enacted in its current form, the new seed law could trigger price increases, corporate capture of seeds, and undermine the country’s food system.
ZAAB argues that the government, through the Seed Control Certification Institute (SCCI), has not presented the actual changes and amendments in the draft PBR Bill.
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Addressing journalists in Lusaka, ZAAB Country Coordinator Mutinta Nketani expressed concern over the lack of transparency.
She questioned what changes have been made if the seed institute has failed to share both the current proposed bill and the existing act.
Ms. Nketani criticized the government’s continued silence following the proposal to repeal the existing law. The alliance observes that the SCCI has built a strong case for the benefits of the breeders and commercial seed sector, while the benefits to farmers, consumers, and the country are significantly neglected and missing from early stakeholder engagements.
ZAAB has since recommended that the government abandon all efforts to repeal and adopt the proposed new PBR Bill to align with UPOV.
The alliance further observes that the current PBR Act is already in line with the TRIPS Agreement and adequately protects plant breeders’ rights.
ZAAB advocates for the development and adoption of comprehensive and cohesive legal frameworks to fully implement Zambia’s obligations to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), specifically farmers’ rights.
Recommendations:
1. Abandon Efforts to Pass the New PBR Bill: ZAAB recommends halting all efforts to repeal and adopt the proposed new PBR Bill to align with UPOV. The current PBR Act is already in line with the TRIPS Agreement and adequately protects plant breeders’ rights.
2. Facilitate an Open and Transparent National Discussion on Farmers’ Rights: ZAAB calls for open engagement with stakeholders from the farming, formal seed, and agricultural sectors, civil society, and relevant ministries before any amendments to seed legislation are made. This engagement is necessary to shape comprehensive new guiding principles for Zambia’s seed systems.
3. Develop and Adopt a Comprehensive Legal Framework: ZAAB emphasizes the need to develop and adopt a legal framework that fully implements Zambia’s obligations under the ITPGRFA, particularly concerning farmers’ rights. This should include fostering a flourishing national seed sector based on farmer and diverse seed varieties appropriate for varied local agroecological conditions.
ZAAB’s statement underscores the need for a balanced approach that benefits all stakeholders in Zambia’s agricultural sector, ensuring food sovereignty and agroecological sustainability.
