Previous Forums
This will be the seventh Let's liberate diversity Forum here are details of the previous Forums.
LLD Poitiers, France
The first forum Let's Liberate diversity! was organized by
the Réseau Semences Paysannes (Peasants' Seed Network) and the National Coordination for the Defense of Farm-Saved Seeds
(CNDSF) in November 2005 in Poitiers, France. The 150 participants, farmers and associations have exchanged on the rights
of farmers linked to the production, exchange and conservation of seeds. The forum was followed by a strategy session on
seeds, GMOs and GMO-free regions in the European Parliament in February 2006.
LLD2 Bullas, Spain
The second edition of Let's Liberate Diversity! was held in Bullas, Spain, in the organization of
the Red de Semillas in October 2006. The main point of discussion on the agenda of this meeting
was the bill of the European Directive on conservation varieties. Forum participants asked in a
joint letter sent to European Commission a legislation more adapted to the needs of farmers.
LLD3
Halle, Germany
The third forum, Let's Liberate Diversity! held in Halle, Germany, organized jointly by the BUKO Campaign against Biopiracy,
IG Saatgut (Network of GMO free seeds) and the European Civic
Forum in May 2007. Based on the example of GM wheat trials in the gene bank of Gatersleben
near Halle the organizers wished to draw attention to the contamination of gene banks by
genetically modified organisms. An important result of this meeting was a step forward in
structuring the European Coordination of Farmers' Seeds.
LLD4 Ascoli,
Italy
In October 2008 the honor of hosting the next edition of Let's Liberate Diversity! fell to Italy.
Organized by the Rete Semi Rurali in collaboration with the European organizing committee
created in Halle, the forum was held in Ascoli in the Marche region. Farmers' rights and the
enhancement of crop biodiversity were the main topics discussed.
LLD5 Graz, Austria
Following a short break, the Let's Liberate Diversity! series continued in Graz, Austria, in
March 2010. On this occasion the organizers, including Arche Noah and Via Campesina Austria,
chose to focus on themes such as reform of European legislation on seeds (Better Regulation
process), intellectual property rights, animal biodiversity and initiatives from Central and Eastern
Europe.
LLD6 Szeged, Hungary
The 2011 edition of the forum was be held in Szeged, Hungary, during the Hungarian presidency of the European Union. Its central
theme was the question of Farmers' Rights related to the conservation, sustainable use and development of agricultural biodiversity.
The event was attended by some 280 farmers, gardeners, seed artisans, bakers and processors of products derived from agricultural
biodiversity, civil society organizations, researchers, breeders and representatives of gene banks as well as local communities
implementing initiatives on agricultural biodiversity in Europe.