Organised in partnership with the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) and the Association for Plant Breeding for the Benefit of Society (APBREBES), ACB is co-hosting and participating in a capacity-building workshop on Plant Variety Protection (PVP) and Farmers’ Rights, currently underway in Entebbe, Uganda.

The workshop, bringing together civil society organisations, smallholder farmers, and government representatives, aims to provide a balanced understanding of different PVP systems, highlighting their advantages and drawbacks. It explores how farmers’ rights, food security, international obligations, and the dynamics of the seed market can be meaningfully integrated into national seed legislation.

At least 40 participants are in attendance, primarily from countries that are not members of UPOV 1991. The gathering comes at a time when many African countries face pressure to adopt UPOV-aligned policies, often based on an agribusiness push that overlooks national interests and the need for legislative flexibility. The workshop will conclude with a strategic planning session for civil society groups.