[Ngo-sanrm] China's national strategy to deal with seed sovereignty crisis

Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources Management Working Group ngo-sanrm at ngocentre.org.vn
Sun Sep 28 09:42:00 BST 2014


This is quite interesting.

The Chinese government seems to be more concerned than is the government of
Vietnam about protecting their seeds and agricultural production, by not
allowing introduction of GMO seeds into China.

The Chinese view the matter as an issue of *national sovereignty *and food
security.

The Chinese see clearly that the plan of multinational corporate giants
such as Monanto and Dow Chemical is to control the seed supply, maximizing
the global profits of these huge companies.  Monsanto and other firms would
make it impossible for farmers to re-use their seeds, reducing farmers to
permanent financial dependency on the companies.

China views this possibility as a threat to the country's "seed
sovereignty" and thus to their national security.  They are taking steps to
strengthen their control over seeds and agricultural production so Chinese
farmers will not lost control of agricultural production to companies like
Monsanto.

An issue not mentioned by the Chinese, which many Americans and Vietnamese
understand all too well, is the false promises of companies such as
Monsanto and Dow Chemical.  We remember that these companies were major
producers of Agent Orange.  They assured us at the time that the chemical
was *completely safe.  *Now we know that was a lie, and too late we
understand the terrible consequences of that lie.

It will be interesting to see if Vietnam sells out to the toxic producers
of Agent Orange, or takes steps to protect its own agricultural health,
safety, and security -- as China is doing -- by protecting agriculture and
seed production from these outside threats.


*================================ CHUCK SEARCY*


*Co-Chair, NGO Agent Orange Working Group*




* Mobile:      +1 404 740 0653 (U.S.) Email:         chuckusvn at gmail.com
<chuckusvn at gmail.com> Skype:        chucksearcy
================================*


*http://dimsums.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/chinas-seed-sovereignty-strategy.html
<http://dimsums.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/chinas-seed-sovereignty-strategy.html>*


*
<http://dimsums.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/chinas-seed-sovereignty-strategy.html>*

*DIM SUMS*
<http://dimsums.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/chinas-seed-sovereignty-strategy.html>

*Thursday, September 18, 2014*

*China's "Seed Sovereignty" Strategy *

The Chinese government is giving domestic seed companies tax breaks,
engineering consolidations, and setting up a jerry-rigged system of
supplying publicly-funded seed research to private companies to prop up its
seed industry. The aim is to stem the dominance of multinational companies
in China's seed market and preserve "seed sovereignty."

The official China News Network reported on the seed industry strategy
<http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2014-09/17/content_2751800.htm> discussed by
Ministry of Agriculture officials at a seed industry trade fair in
Changsha, Hunan on September 16. In a series of documents issued since
2011, China's State Council has identified the seed industry as a
"strategic foundational industry" essential to agricultural development and
food security. The Government has issued supportive policies and is
preparing a revision of the "seed law" which purportedly promises a "golden
age" welcomed by the (Chinese) seed companies.

While China has the second-largest number of seed varieties in the world,
its big seed companies are said to have only 0.8 percent of the global seed
market. The "loss of quality seed resources" is said to be a serious
concern. With multinational companies flooding into the market, the
country's "seed sovereignty" is said to be threatened.

The seed companies have been granted a waiver of business taxes said to be
valued at 650 million yuan (over US$ 100 million) in 2013. Official policy
is to promote mergers and acquisitions to whittle down the vast number of
small seed companies. The "threshold" has been raised for staying in the
seed industry. The number of seed companies declined 30 percent, from 8700
in 2011 to 5200 now.

The revised seed law seems to envision a melding of public research with
private marketing for the seed industry. Most seed breeding is conducted by
publicly-funded research institutes. The government plans to increase
spending on research while seed companies are described as the main players
in commercializing new seed varieties. The government also seems to have a
role in seed propagation. Hainan Province has a plan to set aside 50,000 mu
of land for seed breeding and propagation.

Relying on public funding of research is more tricky than it sounds because
government funds often fail to appear or they appropriated for use by
bureaucrats and self-interested institutes to waste on flashy buildings,
vehicles, and overseas trips. In a perhaps not-unrelated announcement,
authorities
are investigating the misappropriation of funds
<http://www.grainnews.com.cn/a/news/2014/09/18-10106.html> appropriated for
research on genetic-modification of crops since 2008. 2-to-3 billion yuan
was budgeted annually over that period, but "effective oversight was
lacking." Some high-level researchers were in charge of research projects
on GM crops while also operating or holding stock in companies. This may be
why the seed law is being revised to "clearly separate" research institutes
from companies.





=========================================



China will adopt "national strategy" to deal with "seed sovereignty" crisis



The central government portal www.gov.cn 2014-09-17

Source: Xinhua News Agency


http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2014-09/17/content_2751800.htm


Xinhua News Agency, Changsha, September 17 (Reporter Zhou Mian) - Reporters
in Changsha, Hunan from the opening on the 16th Twelfth National Seed
Information Exchange & Products Fair learned that, with the status of a
national strategic foundation seed industry The newly revised clear and
imminent introduction of the Seed Law, seed industry development will usher
in the "golden period", while China will also be "national strategy" to
deal with the growing crisis attitude "seed sovereignty."

Ours is a big country crop seed resources, but also the origin of many
crops, there are 340 kinds of crops saved a total of 440,000 copies of the
resource, the number of ranked second in the world. However, due to various
reasons, quality seed resource drain phenomenon is very serious. Meanwhile,
the current total market share of the seed industry before the top ten
companies in the world accounted for only 0.8%. And as to the "ABCD" four
companies (ADM, Bunge, Jia Ji, Louis Dreyfus) deepening foreign-based seed
industry, China's "seed sovereignty" is facing serious challenges.

"Since 2011, the State Council has issued a document to support three
consecutive domestic seed industry, seed industry is clearly a strategic
foundation of core industries, is to promote agricultural development,
ensuring national food security simply can be said of China's seed industry
is ushering in their golden period. "Deputy Secretary for Administration of
the Ministry of Agriculture seed Ma Shuping here, at present, China is
actively developing a number of initiatives by domestic seed industry.

The first is to promote corporate mergers and acquisitions, and
significantly improve the access threshold in the research and development
capabilities, the ability of capital, fixed assets and technology and other
aspects. Thus by 8700 the national seed companies reduce the number 2011 to
the current 5200. Meanwhile through project support, the establishment of
the green channel, reduction of corporate income tax and other ways to
support enterprises to establish commercial breeding system. According to
reports, in 2013 the national total seed exempt from corporate income tax
650 million yuan.

The second is to strengthen the bases of seeds, improving the ability for
species protection. Ma Shuping, at present China has designated the
Northwest, Southwest and Hainan three seed Area. Which Hainan proposed plan
five acres of seed core protected areas. In addition, the Ministry of
Agriculture is also identified 52 nationwide seed counties and five large
seed Huaihua City, Yancheng, Changji, Xinjiang, Gansu Zhangye, Sichuan
Mianyang.

Third, a clear division of research institutes and enterprises. Ma Shuping
said that, in addition to research institutes to increase investment in
basic research of public welfare, the country also made it clear that the
company's position as the main commercial breeding. And the establishment
of Seed Science and Technology Achievement public trading platform to
develop transaction management approach, protecting corporate intellectual
property and innovation.

Vice chairman of the NPC Agriculture Committee bill compartment Zhang Fugui
introduced new draft Seed Law concern has been completed, expected to be
introduced by the end of next year. "Seed Law Amendment insistence
encourage independent innovation, protection of new varieties; strengthen
national nonprofit basic research on the breeding of support; adhere market
and support the principles of several major seed companies and protecting
the seed industry safety." Zhang Fugui said, National legislation in the
form of seed companies to encourage innovation and ensure its market
dominant position, the purpose is to protect our "seed sovereignty."

Editor: Lei Lina






*CHUCK SEARCY*

*M    +8 490 342 0769*

*E     chuckusvn at gmail.com <chuckusvn at gmail.com>*

*Sk   chucksearcy*
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