Empowering Farmers’ Rights as Local Variety Cultivators under Plant Variety Protection Regulations to Prevent Illegal Seed Appropriation

Abstract

The agricultural sector in Indonesia faces significant challenges in the era of globalization, where the competitiveness of agricultural products is hindered by weak protection for innovation and farmers' rights. According to data from BPS, the value of agricultural exports from Indonesia in 2023 reached 33.2 billion USD, but the sector still relies on imports for certain foodstuffs, such as wheat and soybeans. The Plant Variety Protection (PVP) system, which is supposed to protect innovation, has not provided fairness for smallholder farmers, as seen in the case of farmer Tukirin in Nganjuk. Law No. 29 of 2000 on PVP remains ambiguous and does not support the sustainability of local-based agriculture. A reformulation of inclusive and fair regulations is urgently needed to strengthen farmers' rights and prevent market dominance by large corporations, while also safeguarding the sovereignty of national genetic resources.