The HBF-Biowatch cooperation is committed to protecting biological diversity from the potentially damaging effects of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), by empowering civil society and emerging farmers with knowledge and information on GMOs. Biowatch cooperation will address structural problems in the GMO field and the symptoms of these problems.

The structural problems that are experienced in this field include weak legislation, lack of implementation of legislation, globalisation and unregulated free trade, investment and production.

These weaknesses lead to the following problems:

• A loss of biodiversity and the diversity of traditional agricultural systems
• A potential threat to food security
• Public ignorance of the nature and potential dangers of GMOs
• The promotion and distribution of GMO seeds and agrochemicals
• Control of our food production system by multinational seed corporations.

In order to address these structural weaknesses and their resulting symptoms, the project will focus on four activities:

• Building relationships with the government, including members of parliament, relevant governing and regulating bodies.
• Analysing and monitoring policies relating to agriculture and GMOs in particular, including making written and oral submissions on draft legislation, regulations and policies. 
• Building capacity and solidarity within civil society on matters relating to sustainable agriculture and biodiversity conservation.
• Increasing media coverage on the potential dangers of GMOs, convening public discussions and preparing public awareness materials.

Considering that gender equality is a central tenet of all the foundation’s work, the gender objective of this project is to give small-scale women farmers a voice to participate in the discussion around GMOs, thereby empowering them to assert themselves in the often patriarchal system with which they are faced.