EDS315 Governance of Plant Genetic Resources and Seeds: Laws, Policies and Practices

Cancelled in 2022.

This course is about the governance regime for crop biodiversity from the international to the local level. It is an intensive and interactive course with four weeks of lectures, local excursions and seminars. The course covers: 1) International agreements governing biodiversity (The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), The Nagoya Protocol (NP), The Plant Treaty (ITPGRFA)); Implementation of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) such as patents and plant variety protection in relation to international agreements like WTO-TRIPS and UPOV; 3) Local and national seed supply systems and seed laws; Political economy of plant breeding and seed systems and the concepts of Farmers’ Rights and the seed related parts in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants (UNDROP)

Knowledge about and ability to interpret conventions, laws and policies on agricultural genetic resources, including property rights, access, exchange and sharing of benefits arising from commercial use of such resources.

Insights in the practical significance of the international laws and policies at the local level.

The student shall acquire ability to critically analyze questions pertaining to genetic resources based on their properties, historical role and place in society today.