Cultivating Farmers’ Rights: Reconciling Food Security, Indigenous Agriculture, and TRIPS

This Note discusses strategies for cultivating Farmers’ Rights internationally.  The rise of international treaties awarding intellectual property rights in plant genetic resources to plant breeders brought with it an erosion of agricultural biodiversity as well indigenous farmer lifestyles.  Farmers’ Rights emerged in recognition of the role of traditional farmers play in conserving, creating, and promoting genetic diversity in the food supply and of the importance of maintaining traditional agriculture practices.  This Note argues that Farmers’ Rights can be realized internationally through concerted effort.  The Note proposes that Farmers’ Rights could be realized if national governments create laws and infrastructure that promote Farmers’ Rights while the international community works to change international intellectual property law. 

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