Tell me we don’t live in a plutocracy, ffs.
The federal government wants to restrict farmers’ ability to save seeds and other reproductive plant materials like tree grafts for some crops – and is asking farmers to comment on the changes during the height of the growing season.
Last month, the government announced it is considering amendments to Canada’s seed laws that would force farmers to pay seed companies royalties for decades after their original purchase of seeds from protected varieties of plants. Even if farmers grow that plant variety in later years with seed they produced themselves from earlier crops, instead of buying new seed, they must pay the royalties for over 20 years.
If passed, the changes will apply to horticultural crops like vegetables, fruit trees and ornamental plants. They will also restrict farmers’ ability to save and use hybrid seeds, which combine the desirable traits of several genetically different varieties. Public consultations on the proposed changes opened May 29, 2024 and ends on July 12, 2024.
Critics say the move will further exacerbate a crisis in Canadian seed diversity, supply and resilience to climate change. Over the past 100 years, 75 per cent of agricultural biodiversity has declined globally, and only 10 per cent of remaining crop varieties are commercially available in the country.
As a farmer that uses regular, hybrid and GMO seed, I’m fine with this. The hybrid breeders have a tough time making it worthwhile to go to the expense and effort of developing a strain that they really can only profit off of on the basis of purity of strain. There are great strides made in regular hybridization for drought resistance, heat tolerance and standability, but when I can just keep their seed and take it to a cleaner, it really doesn’t help encourage the breeders.
I think there needs to be some restrictions on royalty rates, and accomodation made for availability. If I have to search all over and maybe not get the variety I need because nobody feels they can afford to pay the royalties and don’t grow it, then this all backfires.
That said, older registered varieties still produce well in most years, so maybe it isn’t so bad to have to take the second choice.
Thanks for the insight. I’m concerned about regulatory capture, much like in the wireless market. That would absolutely have a negative impact on the royalties for farmers, but producing hybrids still isn’t cheap. I can see where both sides have some valid arguments, and hope the government comes to a reasonable conclusion. If they don’t, I hope the farmers vote with their wallets for the sake of all of us.
