Vegetable seeds

The Netherlands has a sizeable seed sector with companies (mainly multinationals) that globally supply vegetable and cotton seeds produced overseas. These are companies that consumers do not deal with directly but are at the source of vegetable and cotton production and play a major role in the seed sector. Amongst others, seeds are produced on a large scale in India as India is one of the largest producers of seeds. Large-scale production in India is associated with issues such as child labour, underpayment and discrimination against minorities. 

Arisa raises these abuses with companies, politicians and governments and pushes for improvements in labour conditions in seed production. These efforts have resulted in a structural dialogue with some of the leading multinationals in vegetable seed production. Together with these companies, Arisa is working to improve wages and reduce child labour in two regions of India.