The meta-governance of organic seed regulation in the USA, European Union and Mexico

Seed governance in agriculture is a challenging global issue. This paper analyses the evolution of organic seed regulation in the USA, the European Union and Mexico as model cases of how these challenges are being addressed, based on a study conducted between 2007 and 2014. It highlights how growth of the organic sector is hindered by regulatory imbalances and trade incompatibilities arising from divergent stakeholder interests along the organic seed value chain, and the varying capacity for self-organising governance of the seed sector in relation to the state's regulatory role. Progress towards regulatory harmonisation in the organic seed sector among the three cases has been slow. The paper concludes with an assessment of the regulatory processes described including what the regions may learn from each other and lessons for key areas of regulatory policy and practice.