Erste Asset Management

The EU has the chance to make the seed legislation fit for the future

The EU has the chance to make the seed legislation fit for the future
The EU has the chance to make the seed legislation fit for the future
© iStock.com
Created by | Published on | Topics: Sustainability
Tags:
Share post:

ARCHE NOAH was founded 26 years ago. The careful, protective handling of seeds and the protection of the diversity of agricultural crop has been the focus of the charitable association ever since. More than 15,000 members, patrons, and partners who invest money and ideas in the mission of maintaining the diversity of agricultural crop support ARCHE NOAH.

How does ARCHE NOAH see the issue genetically modified organisms and patents on food and seeds?

How does ARCHE NOAH see the issue GMOs (genetically modified organisms)?

ARCHE NOAH acts as part of the NGO coalition of IG-Saatgut* (community of interests for seeds), which advocates for seeds that are free of gene modifications. Genetically unmodified seeds tend to be under threat, given that the EU Commission has tried to weaken the zero-tolerance stance with regard to GMO contamination. The so-called new cultivation techniques (such as agro-infiltration, CRISPR/Cas, ODM etc) constitute another risk, because unless they are classified as gene technology, they are not traceable. This would gradually lead to a situation where seeds could not be kept free of gene modifications any longer.

ARCHE NOAH focuses on a participatory approach to cultivation and cooperates with organic businesses, both when it comes to keeping and developing “old species”. This is important, because the better these plants are suited for cultivation today, the higher their chance of survival. These businesses grow selected plants on their fields in agreement with the seed archive and other project partners. The plants are documented, evaluated, and seed bearers are selected and multiplied on the basis of certain features such as robustness, taste, and colour. This approach helps develop and strengthen distinctive features of species over the years. At the moment the main focus is on tomatoes, beans, pumpkins, peppers, as well as on the revival of very rare crops such as the bulbous chervil and the rampion bellflower.

More answers can be found in our interview:
ESG-Letter: Interview with ARCHE NOAH

 

RESPOND TO THE ARTICLE

Paul Severin has worked at Erste Asset Management since April 2008. Until 2012 he was responsible for the company’s product management; he has directed communications and PR activities since April 2012. From 1992 to 2008, he was director of equity fund management and deputy director for institutional funds at Pioneer Investments Austria in Vienna.

His career in the securities business began in 1992 at Constantia Privatbank as a portfolio manager and analyst. He worked as primary analyst at Creditanstalt Investmentbank in Vienna from 1994 to 1999.

He studied international business at Innsbruck University and Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI, USA. Before his university studies, he worked at Dornbirner Sparkasse in letters of credit and export financing.

Paul Severin is a member of the board at ÖVFA (Austrian Association for Financial Analysis and Asset Management) and a CEFA charter holder.

Paul Severin is also on Twitter: @paulseverin

Legal disclaimer

This document is an advertisement. Unless indicated otherwise, source: Erste Asset Management GmbH. Our languages of communication are German and English.

The prospectus for UCITS (including any amendments) is published in accordance with the provisions of the InvFG 2011 in the currently amended version. Information for Investors pursuant to § 21 AIFMG is prepared for the alternative investment funds (AIF) administered by Erste Asset Management GmbH pursuant to the provisions of the AIFMG in connection with the InvFG 2011. The fund prospectus, Information for Investors pursuant to § 21 AIFMG, and the Key Information Document can be viewed in their latest versions at the web site www.erste-am.com within the section mandatory publications or obtained in their latest versions free of charge from the domicile of the management company and the domicile of the custodian bank. The exact date of the most recent publication of the fund prospectus, the languages in which the Key Information Document is available, and any additional locations where the documents can be obtained can be viewed on the web site www.erste-am.com. A summary of investor rights is available in German and English on the website www.erste-am.com/investor-rights as well as at the domicile of the management company.

The management company can decide to revoke the arrangements it has made for the distribution of unit certificates abroad, taking into account the regulatory requirements.

Detailed information on the risks potentially associated with the investment can be found in the fund prospectus or Information for investors pursuant to § 21 AIFMG of the respective fund. If the fund currency is a currency other than the investor's home currency, changes in the corresponding exchange rate may have a positive or negative impact on the value of his investment and the amount of the costs incurred in the fund - converted into his home currency.

Our analyses and conclusions are general in nature and do not take into account the individual needs of our investors in terms of earnings, taxation, and risk appetite. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of the future performance of a fund.

MORE ON THE SUBJECT