“It is time that we act together to raise awareness about not only the magnitude but also the serious consequences that illegal activities in seeds may have not only economically to seed companies and farmers but also to consumers,” said Marco van Leeuwen, President of ISF.
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With this MoU, the organizations aim to increase awareness about and implement Legal Seed and Plant Practices worldwide.
“It is time that we act together to raise awareness about not only the magnitude but also the serious consequences that illegal activities in seeds may have not only economically to seed companies and farmers but also to consumers,” said Marco van Leeuwen, President of ISF.
Michael Keller, Secretary General of ISF, shared: “The MoU was signed today at our centennial congress to send a clear message: events like the ISF World Seed Congress must not become a platform for infringers to trade in illegal seeds. In fact, ISF has put in place a procedure to exclude entities and individuals who are proven to commit illegal seed practices from future congresses.”
12 compagnies representing seed sector
These organizations participating are located all around the world, each one making a contribution int the business.
- ISF ;
- African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA), the Asia and Pacific Seed Alliance (APSA) ;
- Euroseeds ;
- the Seed Association of the Americas (SAA) ;
- the Anti-Infringement Bureau for Intellectual Property Rights on Plant Material (AIB) ;
- the Breeders Trust ;
- CIOPORA (International Community of Breeders of Asexually Reproduced Horticultural Plants) ;
- CropLife International ;
- Gestión de Licencias Vegetales (GESLIVE) ;
- SICASOV ;
- Seed Innovation Protection Alliance (SIPA) ;
- Seeds Innovation and Protection Initiative (SIPI).
Thereby, ISF insists on the decision to fight Illicit trade in food and food fraud, Because, "although the global cost of fraud to the food industry is difficult to determine, annual estimations are in the range of US$ 30-50 billions", specified doctor Doaa Abdel-Motaal, Senior Counsellor at WTO Agriculture and Commodities Division.