For over 10,000 years, farmers have been selecting, adapting, exchanging, and developing seeds. Their invaluable expertise ensures the availability of varieties suited to local conditions and strengthens our resilience in the face of climate change. It is also a key factor in ensuring food security. In short, seeds are life. The publication Seeds at risk, co-published by SWISSAID, serves as a vital reminder of this.
Today, however, this precious heritage is under threat. Just four major corporations control more than 50% of the global seed market. The industrial seeds they develop, patent, and aggressively promote are increasingly replacing traditional farmers’ seeds.
And the consequences are alarming. Of the world’s 300,000 plant species, only 30 are currently used for food production. Even more concerning, just three—corn, rice, and wheat—account for half of the calories we consume. This loss of diversity poses a serious risk, making our agricultural ecosystems more vulnerable to health and climate crises.
Call to action
Simon Degelo, co-author and expert of biodiversity and seeds at SWISSAID, explains: “This publication highlights the concentration of the seed market in the hands of a few large corporations and the risks this poses, particularly for food security in developing countries. It is more than just a status report—it is a call to action. The various contributions demonstrate that change is possible. We want to encourage civil society and policymakers to actively support farmers’ rights and defend the free use of seeds in all their diversity.”
Seeds at risk gives voice to this reality. The publication brings together numerous contributions from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe, exploring the issue from scientific, legal, and sociological perspectives. Several key aspects will be presented online at an event on April 24, to which the public is warmly invited. More detailed information will be available shortly. You can already register for the event here.
Seeds for everyone!
Recognized rights
This publication is also an opportunity to show that resistance is bearing fruit. Several international treaties, such as the Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas (UNDROP), have gradually established the recognition of peasants’ rights over seeds. This is an important step forward.
The publication also highlights concrete initiatives by farmers and gardeners around the world to preserve seed diversity and farmers’ rights. A spotlight on their work and the hope of stimulating a worldwide movement.
Seeds at risk is co-published by SWISSAID and the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation in partnership with the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), the Association for Plant Breeding for the Benefit of Society (APBREBES) and Southeast Asia Regional Initiatives for Community Empowerment (SEARICE).
