University of Vaasa - Vaasan yliopisto

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food system which in their opinion lead to food scandals with often severe
consequences, e.g. Bayer’s GE rice scandal where experimental GE varieties
accidentally entered global rice supplies in 2006 (ETCGroup 2008b:7,8; Greenpeace
2009b:3). Slow Food (2008b:22) observes a shift from local food systems to
supermarket-based chains which contributes to a loss of food knowledge and variety.
NGOs further criticise that the current labelling regulations and the low traceability
(FoE 2009:34) do not allow consumers to make responsible buying decisions (SF
2008b:22; LVC 2008e). Furthermore they talk about unethical and irresponsible
TNC media and advertisement campaigns to gain the confidence of farmers (FoE
2006:10). Companies on the other hand state that they comply with the labelling
regulations (Monsanto 2007a:55; Syngenta 2007:24; Bayer 2007b:14; Dow 2007a:96)
and with responsible marketing practices (Bayer 2007a:93; Dow 2007a:97). .
Summary and Outlook
Although TNCs' practices are strongly attacked by the NGO community, throughout
their CSR reports the analysed seed companies do not report much on their proactive
engagement on AB management issues as formulated in our research questions. Seed
companies' contribution to increase diversity of PGRFA therefore remains
controversial. On the one hand – especially for the industrial world – their
contribution to crop improvement cannot be denied since they are the major breeders
nowadays while farmers are only the users of their technology and products. On the
other hand, their promotion of major cash crops, like soy or plants for agrofuels, and
selection criteria that focus on varieties that are suited for monocultures and large
scale commercialization, have definitely contributed to a severe reduction of
diversity on the field. Surprisingly, the analysed seed companies do not show major
concern for conservation issues anyway - given the fact that on-farm conservation is
the only way to reproduce seeds and keep them alive over decades. Moreover, they
see farmers only as customers and fight their efforts to breed or replant seeds as a
means of competition – thus, they even try to limit their access to PGRFA. Large
seed companies obviously try to solve AB challenges rather by technology than by
participation. Our findings do not show any evidence that the companies
substantially involve other stakeholders in their AB management strategies and
practices. Nor do the analysed NGOs as critics of the current economic system and
TNCs' role in it, offer many recommendations on how seed companies could
improve their management practices. We are aware that corporate and NGO
documents do not only refer to our research questions but cover a wide range of
topics. Therefore we will conduct further empirical research – surveys and interviews
with a larger number of seed companies and major stakeholders - to get a more
detailed picture.