Agricultural Apartheid
The latest issue of Seedling magazine has an article describing the latest developments with ‘agricultural apartheid’ as it exists in Europe with regards to plant varieties and rights to save seeds. The term agricultural apartheid was introduced last year in an editorial.
In the quest to protect the rights of patent holders, varieties of plants not on official seed lists are not allowed to be sold for food production in Europe, and it is technically illegal (under EU law, but not necessarily all national laws) for gardeners to save their own seeds and share them with other gardeners. Many farmers are not even allowed to save and replant their own seeds.
In case anyone besides me noticed that most of the produce available in Europe is uninteresting and bland, and has never heard of this, now you know one of the root causes.
Seed saving is not the only issue on the agenda. This article also discusses the current state of opposition to GM crops in Europe.
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Yes, yes, yes – and it’s so sad. When I was growing up the number of different varieties of apples, potatoes, tomatoes etc available in the shops was incredible. Now all you can get is the same old bland varieties. I’ve never understood why comsumer organisations accepted the new laws so calmly, or why people go on buying the stuff. Why don’t people just boycott Golden Delicious (ho, ho what a misnomer) apples, and all the other sawdust-tasting fruit and veg for a while – the producers would be fighting for a change in the law in no time.