Gene Campaign is a grassroots level organisation with a presence in 17 states of India working on research and advocacy in the field of food and livelihood security, bioresources, farmers’ and community rights, intellectual property rights and indigenous knowledge. The group works together with the scientific community, students and youth, cultural activists, environmental groups, consumer groups, women’s’ groups, human rights and social justice groups. It works with farmers’ organisations and rural and adivasi communities, in its efforts to influence and change policy and laws on the ownership and use of bioresources. In addition to a national network, Gene Campaign has linkages with civil society groups working in developing and developed countries.
The principle work programmes are as follows:
- Food and livelihood security for rural and tribal communities
- Farmers’ and Community Rights
- TRIPS/ Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)
- Biodiversity and agro-biodiversity documentation and conservation
- Indigenous knowledge and medicinal plants
- National legislation and policy in the field of bio-resources and IPRs.
- Field projects and research
- Bio-resource based income generation