In a joint letter sent on 11 March 2026 to the European Parliament rapporteur, the European Commission and EU agriculture ministers, the organisations underline that EU seed legislation can have effects beyond Europe. Because the EU acts as a global standard-setter and major trading partner, its seed rules can influence seed systems and farmers’ rights in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
The letter therefore calls for EU legislation that protects agrobiodiversity, safeguards farmer-to-farmer seed exchange and ensures transparency and participation in seed governance.
ACT Alliance EU members involved in this initiative include Brot für die Welt and HEKS/EPER.
Other signatories include BD (Broederlijk Delen), Caritas Europa, Caritas Africa, Caritas MONA, CIDSE, Misereor, the World Council of Churches (WCC), the European Christian Environmental Network (ECEN), CELAM, SECAM and the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) Harare.
ACT Alliance EU joined this initiative because EU policies on agriculture and seed systems can affect farmers and food systems in countries where ACT members work. The letter highlights the importance of policy coherence for development and the protection of farmers’ rights to seeds as part of the broader right to food.
Joint letter
Read the full joint letter: Joint Letter regarding the Trilogues on the EU Plant Reproductive Material Regulation – 11 March 2026
Photo by Võ Văn Tiến: https://www.pexels.com/photo/traditional-vietnamese-farmer-sifting-rice-outdoors-29677339/
