Biotechnology and Farmer*s Rights: Opportunities and Threats for Small-Scale Farmers in Developing Countries

Biotechnology may have negative impacts on small-scale agriculture. So far, choices in the West have been in favour of research geared to the needs of large-scale agriculture.
Furthermore, biotechnological products and methods are more and more protected by patent law and plant breeder's right. This development, which is mainly profitable for Western companies, is likely to marginalize small-scale agriculture and to worsen their dependent position.
At a public debate, held at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, scientists, representatives of governments and non-governmental organizations from developed and developing countries, international organizations and multinationals discussed the possibility to develop biotechnological products appropriate to small-scale farming; formulate and implement farmer's right, in addition to patent law and plant breeder's right; and develop a code of conduct for multinational enterprises to minimise negative effects of biotechnology for developing countries.