Farmers and/or their organizations may be represented in various decision-making or advisory bodies, such as national advisory committees, commissions, councils or working groups focusing on the conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA. When appointing such bodies, special attention may be paid to the representation of men, women and rural youth to ensure equal participation.

Depending on how such measures are set up, they may have a legal basis; rules and procedures may be established, including by drawing from norms, principles, and good practices that have been developed in other contexts, such as the human rights framework. This may include, for example, that information is shared in due time and appropriate language(s), or that financial and/or other necessary resources are made available.

Such bodies may be involved in the preparation and/or making of decisions, for example, relating to plant variety protection and seed, the design of national programmes or the distribution of funds for the conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA.

Example(s) of possible measures:

  • Participation of farmers in the decision-making process (Japan/Asia). Click here
  • Representation of farmers in the advisory boards of relevant institutions (Netherlands/Europe). Click here
  • Participation of farmers' associations in decision-making related to PGRFA in Spain (Spain/Europe). Click here
  • The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Crop Germplasm Committees (USA/North America). Click here