Whatever the terms of the UPOV rules on the admission of observers, candidate organisations cannot expect the UPOV bodies to rubber-stamp each and every application whenever the statutes (possibly fabricated for the purpose, as seems to be the case for APREBES) suggest a relevant link.

There is no doubt, however, that the reported reason for the UPOV Consultative Committee decisions sounds very odd in relation to CPE, which is clearly a grouping of farmers’ organisations. As to APREBES, one can only wonder about its reality since it appears to have the features of a Trojan horse, or an ad hoc gathering, for purposes of admission into UPOV as observers. The above-mentioned press release, which does not feature APREBES as one of its authors, but individual members, speaks volumes on this.

If the UPOV decision is unfortunate, the rant in the press release is no better. For one, it is not Via Campesina’s application which failed, but that of a European gathering whose name does not seem to be stabilised. For another, say, Kenya in Africa, Brazil in America, Vietnam in Asia and Norway in Europe (as the champion of development) will be pleased to learn that they, as members of UPOV are “not interested in taking into account the issues that affect the most vulnerable communities, food sovereignty and biodiversity”.

Moreover, one has yet to see, say, the French Confédération paysanne, an influential member of CPE (or ECVC) rallying to ensure that its members and friends stop growing the varieties from these evil seed companies that are allegedly “favoured and preferred” by UPOV.

And, by the way, farmers are represented by observers in UPOV through the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) and the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH), not just by the European COGECA.

And also by the way, CropLife International’s application for observer status in two UPOV committees failed as well.

De Schutter’s report deserves more than the short reference at the end of the post, and also a critical analysis and rebuttal. It is quite ironical in this respect that Li-Bird, one of the APREBES members has posted a link to Biodiversity International (former IPBGR) explaining that, and how, “Modern crop varieties can increase local genetic diversity“ .(at http://www.bioversityinternational.org/news_and_events/news/news/article/modern_crop_varieties_can_increase_local_genetic_diversity.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=323&cHash=45815b1e86)