Community seed banks are valuable institutions around the world that help farmers and communities regain, maintain and increase their control over seeds. Although they have received little attention in scientific literature and policy circles, they exist as good examples of the implementation of farmers’ rights, a significant aspect of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA).
The key elements of farmers’ rights, as defined in Articles 9.2 (a) to (c) and 9.3 of the ITPGRFA, include the right to save, use, exchange and sell farm-saved seed and propagating material; the right to protect traditional knowledge relevant to plant genetic resources for food and agriculture; the right to an equitable share of benefits arising from the use of these resources; and the right to participate in decisions, at the national level, on matters related to the conservation and sustainable use of such resources.