Francois Meinberg
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Francois Meinberg
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About this listen
In this episode of The Battle for African Agriculture, Million Belay speaks with seed law expert François Meinberg to unpack the complex issues surrounding Plant Variety Protection (PVP) laws and their impact on African farmers. The conversation explores how international frameworks like UPOV 1991 and the TRIPS Agreement often prioritize corporate interests, undermining farmers' rights to save, exchange, and develop seeds. Meinberg explains how these legal systems threaten biodiversity, restrict innovation, and erode indigenous knowledge systems that have long supported resilient food production in Africa. The episode also highlights the pressure African countries face to adopt restrictive seed laws, often at the expense of local food security and sovereignty. Meinberg emphasizes the importance of civil society advocacy, farmer-managed seed systems, and integrating traditional knowledge into legal frameworks. Together, they call for evidence-based policymaking and a balanced legal approach that supports both breeders and farmers, urging African leaders to resist trade agreements that compromise the continent’s agricultural future.