Declaration of Cortes de la Frontera about seeds
"Agricultural biodiversity and peasant knowledge, agroecological bases for a new rural development"
VI STATE AND II ANDALUSIAN FAIR OF AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY AND TECHNIQUES, III INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON GENETIC RESOURCES AND SEEDS IN ORGANIC AGRICULTURE.
Cortes de la Frontera (Spain). September 2005
Us, Seed networks from different parts of Spain and the European Union, meeting in Cortes de la Frontera (Spain) from September 15th to 18th 2005, the sixth Fair of Biodiversity,
We believe that the loss of agricultural biodiversity is a fact and referenced by all agencies and institutions that develop lines on this subject, such as FAO (Organization of the UN of Food and Agriculture).
We believe in organic agriculture and the use of local varieties, as one of the most important strategies for achieving the balance necessary to produce ecosystem without chemical treatment and with sufficient productivity.
Argue that the recovery of peasant knowledge on the cultivation and use of these involves a recovery of the local culinary and gastronomic culture, land use and landscape setting. We oppose the imposition of a patent and transgenic agriculture, which endanger the access of the farmers to knowledge and biodiversity.
Claim the right of the farmers to participate in the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use and conservation of genetic resources. We demand a legal framework, preferably through the new Law on Seeds and Nursery Plants and Plant Genetic Resources, which promotes sustainable use, conservation and benefit sharing of genetic resources, allowing farmers to access and free exchange of seeds and small businesses for production and marketing of varieties.
Demand strong support from government to the task of recovery of our genetic heritage cultivated.
Seed Network "Exchanging and Seeding"
Ratified by: Red Andaluza de Semillas, Sohiscert, Murcia Agroecology Network, Cooperativa Valenciana Terra Sana, Cofradía do Pao, Rincón de la Biodiversidad, Reseau Semences paysannes, MAELA, Andalusian Federation of Consumer Organizations and Producers of organic products and Artisanal, Rural Development Group of the Serrania de Ronda, Serrania Cooperativa Ecológica Amigos de la Tierra Spain, Ekonekazaritza, HDRA, Red de Semillas de Castilla y León, La Verde SCA Agricultural Peoples White SCA, Ecologists in Action, Rede de Sementes Portugal "Ao Encontro da Semente" Red Seed Euskadi, Friends of the School Land Manresa, Asociación Vida Sana, UK Food Group and Association CAAE.