On 23 December 2015, Venezuela’s national assembly passed a new seed law banning the import, production and planting of GMO seeds and protecting the production and free exchange of seed varieties of Venezuela’s farming communities (indigenous, peasant and Afro-descendant) among other provisions. The law is significant both for its content and for the process through which it was passed.
The banning of GMOs follows the precautionary principle in that the effects of transgenic technology are not yet fully understood and what has been documented thus far in terms of impacts on human health and the environment raises significant concerns. These are in addition to concerns over socio-economic and human rights impacts on the small-scale producers who make up the majority of the world’s hungry. Special protection for locally adapted seeds recognizes the importance of local conservation for maintaining maximum genetic diversity, increasingly important for building resiliency in the face of climate change. Additionally, the law is a product of bottom-up policy-making, resulting from a three-year process in which social movements opposed an industry-backed seed law. Instead they pushed for more transformative legislation, holding a series of participatory public consultations throughout the country to develop an alternative.
The passage of the law thus marks a historic win for agroecology and food sovereignty movements in Venezuela and beyond. It is perhaps one of the few national laws in the world which guarantees and protects the right of peasants to seeds. However, despite widespread domestic support and the international interest it has garnered, the law is under attack by industry representatives and their supporters for being “anti-scientific.” This places the seed law at risk of being overturned by the current national assembly, which has had an opposition majority since January of this year.
As scientists, practitioners and advocates involved in food and agriculture, we question the grounds for such attacks. The thrust of the law toward a prioritization of agroecological farming practices is in keeping with a mounting scientific consensus of the importance of a shift from conventional to ecologically-based agricultural systems that value the knowledge of local food producers and involve them in decision-making. This has been emphasized, for instance, in the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) developed by 400 of the world’s leading experts and endorsed by 59 countries.
We are therefore following the emerging struggle over the law and its implementation with great interest, not only for its implications for Venezuela, but for its broader implications in the face of increasing corporate consolidation of the genetic resources critical for present and future food security and food sovereignty. We stand with the food producers, scientists, and grassroots movements in Venezuela urging the National Assembly to maintain the integrity of this law and to support its full implementation.
Signed:
Olivier De Schutter, Co-Chair, International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food), Former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food (2008-2014), Member of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Professor, University of Louvain, Belgium
Jack Kloppenburg, Professor Emeritus, University of Wisconsin-Madison and founder, Open Source Seed Initiative, USA
Sofia Monsalve, Secretary General, FIAN International
Frances Moore Lappé, Small Planet Institute, USA
Miguel Altieri, Professor, University of California Berkeley, USA
Fred Magdoff, Professor Emeritus, Plant and Soil Science, University of Vermont, USA
Philip McMichael, Professor, Cornell University, USA
Ian Scoones, Professor, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, UK
Eric Holt-Giménez, Food First/The Institute for Food and Development Policy, USA
Jan Douwe van der Ploeg, Professor, Wageningen University, Netherlands
Bernardo Mançano Fernandes, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Brazil
Gayatri Menon, Assistant Professor, Azim Premji University, India
Esteve Corbera, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
Frederick Mills, Professor, Bowie State University, USA
Anna Lappé, Small Planet Institute, USA
Jennifer Clapp, Canada Research Chair in Global Food Security and Sustainability and Professor, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, University of Waterloo, Canada
Ivette Perfecto, Professor, School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan, USA
Juliette Majot, Executive Director, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, USA
Sophia Murphy, Researcher and Scholar, University of British Columbia, Canada
Alastair Iles, Professor, University of California Berkeley, USA
Susanna Hecht, Professor, Luskin School of Public Affairs and Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, UCLA, USA
Nettie Weibe, Farmer and Professor, St. Andrew’s College – University of Saskatchewan, Canada
Tamara Wattnam, M.Sc. in Agroecology and PhD candidate in Sociology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
M. Jahi Chappell, PhD, Senior Research Fellow (as of August 2016), Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience, Coventry University, UK
Nora McKeon, Terra Nuova, Italy
Mindi Schneider, Assistant Professor, International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Netherlands
Rachel Bezner Kerr, Associate Professor, Department of Development Sociology, Cornell University, USA
Peter Newell, Professor of International Relations, University of Sussex, UK
Robin Broad, Professor, School of International Service, American University, USA
Tony Weis, Associate Professor, University of Western Ontario, Canada
John Vandermeer, Asa Gray Distinguished University Professor, University of Michigan, USA
Edmund Oh, Associate Professor, ELM Graduate School, HELP University, Malaysia
Jessica Duncan, Assistant Professor, Wageningen University, Netherlands
Josh Brem-Wilson, Research Fellow, Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience, Coventry University, UK
Laura Enríquez, Professor, Department of Sociology, University of California Berkeley, USA
Elizabeth Fitting, Graduate Coordinator & Associate Professor, Dalhousie University, USA
Sarah Lyon, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, University of Kentucky, USA
Simon Nicholson, Director of the Global Environmental Politics Program, American University, USA
Molly D. Anderson, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Food Studies at Middlebury College, USA
Brian Tokar, Lecturer in Environmental Studies, University of Vermont, USA
Dr Francisco Dominguez, Head of Latin American Studies, Middlesex University, London, UK
Marc Edelman, Professor of Anthropology, Hunter College & the Graduate Center, City University of New York, USA
Wendy Wolford, Polson Professor of Development Sociology, Cornell University, USA
Timothy A. Wise, Researcher, Global Development and Environment Institute, Tufts University, USA
Michel Pimbert, Professor, The Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience at Coventry University, UK
John Bellamy Foster, Professor, University of Oregon and Editor, Monthly Review, USA
Hannah Wittman, Associate Professor, Faculty of Land and Food Systems and Academic Director, Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Canada
Jun Borras, Professor, International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Netherlands
Eva Frankova, Department of Environmental Studies, Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University, Czech Republic
David Primrose, Department of Political Economy, University of Sydney, Australia
Stephen Bartlett, Agricultural Mission, USA
Dave Murphy, Food Democracy Now!, USA
Joan P Mencher, Emerita Professor, Anthropology, City University of New York (CUNY), USA
Anuradha Mittal, Executive Director, The Oakland Institute, USA
Dr. Charles Francis, University of Nebraska, USA
Natalia Mamonova, PhD Researcher, International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Netherlands
Sara Keene, PhD Candidate, Cornell University, USA
Huei-Ling Lai, PhD Researcher, International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Netherlands
Judith McGeary, Esq., Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance, USA
Youjin Chung, PhD Candidate, Development Sociology, Cornell University, USA
Wittawat Prayookwong, alumnus, International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Netherlands
Shoshana Perrey, Graduate Student in Development Sociology at Cornell University and Gardener & Chef at Liberation Supper Club, USA
Arnim Scheidel, PhD, International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Netherlands
Lisa Stokke, Executive director, The Next 7 Project, USA
Pierre Merlet, AGTER, Nicaragua/France
Sharmini Selvarajah, Research Programme Manager, International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Netherlands
Amelie Huber, PhD Candidate, Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain
Elyse Mills, Researcher, International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Netherlands
Alberto Alonso-Fradejas, Transnational Institute (TNI), Netherlands & Instituto de Estudios Agrarios y Rurales (IDEAR), Guatemala
Tsegaye Moreda, PhD Candidate, International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Netherlands
Elizabeth Henderson, Organic Farmer, Peacework Organic CSA, Newark, New York, USA
Hana Bernardová, AMPI (Association of Local Food Systems), Czech Republic
Salena Tramel, PhD Researcher, International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Netherlands
Will Fantle, Co-director, The Cornucopia Institute, USA
Mercia Andrews, Rural Women’s Assembly, Southern Africa
Nancy Romer, Professor Emerita, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, USA
Grace Gershuny, Faculty, Green Mountain College, MS in Sustainable Food Systems, USA
Andrianna Natsoulas, Food Voices, USA
Martin Dagoberto, Mass. Right to Know GMOs, Massachusetts, USA
Ken Thesing, ICR, Rome, Italy
Eneko Garmendia, Ikerbasque Research Fellow, Spain
Ben McKay, International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Netherlands
Hannes Lammler, founding member of the European Cooperatives of Longo Mai, France
Amy & Bryan Willoughby, Patchwork Farm, Copper Hill, VA, USA
Russell Dale, Science and Society, USA
Angela Adrar, Ecohermanas, USA
Andrew Kang Bartlett, Food in Neighborhoods Community Coalition, USA
Tania Salerno, PhD Candidate, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
Marta Zygadło, Lawyer and Masters Student of Food, Society and International Food Governance at Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Spain
LaDonna Sanders Redmond, Campaign for Food and Community Justice Now, USA
Laurence Levine, Co-Founder, Kids Can Make a Difference, USA
Antonio Roman-Alcalá, Alumnus, International Institute of Social Studies, Netherlands, and founder, San Francisco Urban Agriculture Alliance, USA
Giulio Locco, Food Activist, Italy and Netherlands
Denise O’Brien, Farmer and Farmer Activist, USA
Jane Hodge, Rise & Root Farm, USA
Jose Oliva, Food Chain Workers Alliance, USA
Sarah Laeng-Gilliatt, Owner, Main Street Cheese LLC, USA
Monica Ibacache, Beyond Organic Design, USA
Christina M. Schiavoni, PhD Researcher, International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Netherlands
Madison Monty,Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont, USA
Kelly Moltzen, Franciscan Action Network, USA
Annie Shattuck, Fellow, Food First, USA
Zainil Zainuddin, Local Food & Urban Agriculture Advocate/Researcher and PhD Candidate, RMIT University, Australia
Fern Gale Estrow, FGE Food & Nutrition Team, USA
Joann Lo, Food Chain Workers Alliance, USA
Denis Mpagaze, Journalist, Author, Lecturer and Right to Food Activist,Tanzania
Arnaud Apoteker, Coordinator of the International Monsanto Tribunal, France
Klara Kyralova, Friends of the Earth Czech Republic
John Wilson, African Food Sovereignty Activist
Yunan Xu, PhD Student, International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Netherlands
Karen Washington, Farmer, Rise & Root Farm, USA
Rev. Dele, Nature’s Friends, USA
Johanna Rosen, Community Organizer and Communications Specialist, Massachusetts, USA
Philip L Bereano, Professor Emeritus, Technology and Public Policy, University of Washington, USA
Claire Robinson, Editor, GMWatch, UK
Elsadig Elsheikh, Researcher, University of California Berkeley, USA
Dr. Laura Rival, Department of International Development, University of Oxford, UK
Cécile Famerée, International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Netherlands
Erika Allen, Growing Power – Chicago, USA
Shalmali Guttal, Focus on the Global South, India
Colleen Cordes, Director of Outreach and Development, The Nature Institute
Michael O’Callaghan, Director, Global Vision Foundation, Switzerland
Afsar Jafri, Focus on the Global South, India
Prof. Dr Arpad Pusztai, FRSE, formerly at the Rowett Research Institute, UK
Prof. Dr. Susan Bardocz, FRSE, formerly at the Rowett Research Institute, UK
Judith Hitchman, President, Urgenci International Network for Community Supported Agriculture
Catherine Ponte, Master of Landscape Architecture, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, USA
Margaret Nakato, Katosi Women Development Trust, Uganda
Simon Anoumou Todzro, West Africa Producers and Consumers Network
Gertrude Kenyangi Kabusimbi, Support for Women in Agriculture and Environment (SWAGEN), Uganda
Hannah Twomey, Alumnus University of Oxford, UK
Beatriz Gascó Verdier, Diputada en Corts Valencianes, Spain
Ivo Zdráhal, Associate Professor, Mendel University, Brno, Czech Republic
Scott Freeman, Professorial Lecturer, American University, USA
Laura Calvet-Mir, Associate Researcher, Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, UAB, Spain
Frank Ademba, Program Officer, MVIWATA- Kilimanjaro Network of Small Scale Farmers Groups in Tanzania
GRAIN
ETC Group
FIAN International
IFOAM – Organics international
Food First/The Institute for Food and Development Policy, USA
Alianza Biodiversidad, Latin America
Terra Nuova, Italy
La Red por una América Latina Libre de Transgénicos, Latin America
El Grupo Semillas, Colombia
La Red de Coordinación en Biodiversidad, Costa Rica
Sociedad Científica Latinoamericana de Agroecología (SOCLA), Latin America
National Family Farm Coalition, USA
Community Alliance for Global Justice, USA
Kenya Food Rights Alliance (KeFRA)
The Second Chance Foundation, USA
Rural Advancement Foundation International, USA
Food Empowerment Project, USA
Research Institute of Agriculture and Peasant Policy – Established by Korean Peasants League & Korean Women Peasant Association,South Korea
Global Justice Ecology Project
Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY), USA
Family Farm Defenders, USA
Rural Vermont, USA
Arid Crop Seed Cache, USA
Growth Partners Africa, Kenya
Movement Generation Justice and Ecology Project, Oakland, CA, USA
WhyHunger, USA
National Farmers Union/Union Nationale des Fermiers, Canada
The Oakland Institute, USA
GMWatch, UK
Border Agricultural Workers Project, El Paso, Texas, USA
Community to Community Development, USA
Hawai`i SEED, the Island Chain of Hawai`i
The MOM Hui, the Island Chain of Hawai`i
GMO Free Kaua`i, Kaua`i, Hawai`i
The NETWORK for Sustainable Development Organization, Thailand
African Centre for Biodiversity, South Africa and Tanzania
Food Sovereignty Ghana, Ghana
Pan-Africanist International, Belgium
USC Canada
Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association (OSGATA), USA
Friends of the ATC, USA/Europe/Nicaragua
Red de Semillas “Resembrando e Intercambiando”, Spain
Washington Biotechnology Action Council, Seattle, Washington, USA
Roughwood Seed Collection, Devon, PA, USA
Philadelphia Seed Exchange, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN), Canada
Farmworker Association of Florida, USA
Becket Films, USA
CONAMUCA (Confederación Nacional de Mujeres Campesinas), Dominican Republic
Focus on the Global South, Thailand
Urgenci International Network for Community Supported Agriculture
JINUKUN, National Network for Sustainable Management of Genetic Resources, Cotonou, Benin (Focal Point of the Coalition to Protect African Genetic Heritage, COPAGEN) Friends of the Earth Australia Friends of the Earth Australia
Semillas de Vida, México
Via Organica, Mexico
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