FSC Speaks on Seeds at Senate
For Immediate Release
Food Secure Canada Calls on All Political Parties to Address Food in Federal Election As Senate Examines Bill C-18
Ottawa, Feb 2, 2015 – If passed, Bill C-18, the Agricultural Growth Act currently under examination by the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, will undermine Canada’s food sovereignty and exacerbate food insecurity. The Bill is a missed opportunity to legislate in the public interest by adopting a forward-looking agricultural policy that would respect biodiversity, protect farmers’ rights and support the sustainable farming practices Canadians want to see.
Food Secure Canada (Diana Bronson), along with ETC Group (Pat Mooney) and the National Farmers Union (Terry Boehm), will appear before the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry on Tuesday February 3 at 7pm, as it examines Bill C-18, the Agricultural Growth Act (Room 2, Victoria Building: 140 Wellington Street, corner of Wellington and O’Connor).
Pat Mooney, Executive director of ETC Group, who has been watching the evolution of plant breeders’ rights since 1977 will explain the severe consequences of extreme concentration in the world’s commercial seed market, over half of which is controlled by three corporations: Monsanto, DuPont Pioneer, Syngenta.
The organizations all signaled their support for the National Farmers Union’s campaign against Bill C-18. Terry Boehm will speak to the importance of farmers’ rights to exchange and save seeds in order to strengthen our resilience to adapt to climate change, as well as that to reuse and sell seeds. “The Agricultural Growth Act is conferring near total control over seeds to plant breeders at the expense of farmers and citizens,” states Terry Boehm.
“This Bill is a perfect example of why we need a coordinated national food policy in Canada, one that looks comprehensively at equity, health and sustainability, rather that simply protecting the interests of a small number of influential corporations,” said Diana Bronson, Executive Director of Food Secure Canada, a national network of organizations working towards zero hunger, healthy and safe food and sustainable food systems.
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Go here to watch the live webcast on Tuesday (click on the camera)
For more information:
Diana Bronson: 514 629 9236
Marie-Elaine LaRochelle: 514 271 7352, cell: 514-502 8585
Terry Boehm: 1 306 255 7836