FTAs Pose Threat to Farmers’ Seed Rights Globally

• Recent reports highlight growing concerns that Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) are being used by wealthy nations to enforce strict intellectual property (IP) rules on seeds , threatening traditional farming practices, especially in developing countries.

Background: IP Rights and Seed Control

• The 1991 UPOV Convention (International Treaty) grants exclusive rights to seed companies over new plant varieties for 20–25 years .

• Under UPOV rules, farmers are prohibited from saving, reusing, or exchanging seeds , a practice central to traditional agriculture.

• Originally designed for industrial agriculture in Europe, UPOV now impacts farmers worldwide.

Role of FTAs in Expanding UPOV

• Modern Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) force countries to adopt UPOV 1991 standards.

• These agreements are negotiated outside the WTO , avoiding global scrutiny.

• FTAs often include “TRIPS-plus” clauses , going beyond WTO requirements.

Key Enforcers of UPOV Rules

• The UAE has begun promoting UPOV clauses in FTAs with Cambodia, Malaysia, and Mauritius .

• India has resisted adopting UPOV 1991 to protect farmers' rights.

Impact on Food Sovereignty

• Strengthens corporate monopolies over seeds

• Weakens farmers' independence and traditional knowledge

• Promotes industrial farming over indigenous practices

• Raises concerns over global food security and biodiversity

Additional Legal Pressures in FTAs

• Plant patent laws

• Budapest Treaty (for patenting micro-organisms)

• These legal demands extend corporate control over biological resources.

Global Monitoring

• A new global dataset maps 20+ years of FTAs with UPOV-style seed clauses.

• It shows how trade deals are influencing national agricultural policies and seed sovereignty.

Why It Matters