Best Peoples Defense - Joint winners

In Defense of Maize Network and the Wixerika (Huichol) People, Mexico

For widening the scope of their fight - from a protest against GM contamination of native maize to an integrated territorial struggle that holistically encompasses self-government, water, forests, fauna, paths, sacred land, language and teaching. Last year, the Wixerika People got back 10,200 hectares of land for their communities.

Deccan Development Society (India)

For two decades of organizing successful seed sovereignty systems among Dalit women's communities in Medak District of Andhra Pradesh. Also for their groundbreaking grassroots research into the effects of Bt cotton that persuaded the government of Andhra Pradesh to kick Monsanto out of the state.

Best Defense of Food Sovereignty

La Via Campesina

For their global Seeds Campaign begun in 2003, asserting the rights of small farmers to select, sort, exchange and re-sow their seeds and resisting control by the multinational seed and biotech industry.

Best Advocate

The African Group at CBD

For defending biodiversity and Farmers' Rights by leading strong opposition to Terminator technology at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity since 1998.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Community Biodiversity Development and Conservation Programme

For ten years of farmer-led research around the world, developing and sharing farming methods to enhance agricultural biodiversity, protect seeds, cultures and livelihoods and affirming food sovereignty.

Best Exposi

Edmonds Institute and African Centre for Biosafety

For their research resulting in the Out of Africa report (2006), which documents 34 recent cases of biopiracy involving African plants, animals and microbes.

Most Satisfying Victory, Finally

Magda Aelvoet, former president of the Green Group in the European Parliament, Dr. Vandana Shiva, of the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Natural Resource Policy and Linda Bullard, of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements

For challenging a patent at the European Patent Office (EPO) on the preparation of a fungicide derived from the seeds of the neem tree. For centuries, farmers have used neem oil for its fungicidal properties. The patent was revoked in 2000, but it took almost five more years for the EPO to finally dismiss an appeal of the 2000 revocation.