LI-BIRD has been working on and contributing to the formulation of several policy and legal instruments related to farmers' rights and the use of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge. LI-BIRD also seeks ways to find policy and legal support for the promotion of safe and quality food, and to address biosafety issues that arise from the technologies and food originating from the use of biotechnology. One of the major shifts in LI-BIRD's new strategy is its increased focus on social inclusion and the empowerment of farming communities. Consideration of gender issues, equity, the inclusion of socially marginalised and vulnerable groups, and the right of resource-poor farmers to inputs and services of agricultural production will be an integral part of LI-BIRD programmes. The goal of the programme is to safeguard the rights and livelihoods of resource-poor farmers and farming communities through advocacy and the formulation of appropriate policy and legal instruments.

 The focus areas of the programme are as follows:

• Social inclusion and equitable benefits
• Farmers rights, Intellectual Property Right and access and benefit sharing
• Health, food, biosafety and biotechnologies
• Social methods and tools for effective farmer participation and decision making in research and development

Ongoing Projects :

• Promoting Innovative Mechanisms for Implementing Farmers’ Rights through Fair Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing Regime in Nepal (ABS)

View list of completed projects