monopolisation of $ € € D In 1985 global seed trade totalled 18 bn $ The four highest ranking...
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Transcript of monopolisation of $ € € D In 1985 global seed trade totalled 18 bn $ The four highest ranking...
monopolisation of $ € € D In 1985 global seed trade totalled 18 bn $The four highest ranking companies
covered 8 % of the market In 2006 global seed sales totalled 34 bn $The top four companies held 30 % of the
market. Monsanto is global leader. In 2008 two thirds of commercial seed in
the world is sold by just ten companies.
Industrial seeds Farm seeds Uniform: not adapted to
local conditions High yields possible High imput: technology,
fertilizer, pesticides: energy consuming crop
selected for transportability, storage life
Narrow resistance Private variety (PBR or
patented) Difficult to reproduce ,
biotech (GURTS) or legal restrictions (IPRs)
Diverse: landraces adapted to local conditions
stable yields low imput: efficient,
energy producing crop
Selected for nutritious value, taste.
Broad resilience Common variety
Fertile, reproducable
Welcome to the EU
Only seeds listed in the Common Catalogue can be used commercially
Farm seeds/varieties are dynamic and evolve with the circumstances in the field. They do not meet the required industrial standards of Distinctiveness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) .
Intellectual Property:monopoly on reproductionRestricting free seeds and diversityIPRWTOTRIPS UPOVEPOPBREuropean Common Catalogue
Patents + food = trouble
- Market monopolies : price rises: corn, cotton
- Block innovation: breeders can’t develop a patented plant further, researchers need permission
- Re-sowing illegal: farmer has to buy new seed
-Stricter controls, higher penalties- Each patented plant draws from common
genetic heritage- Patent thickets: judicial jungle – wide range- Holder can block patented varieties
July 2010:international protest against the broccoli patent at the European Patent Office in Munchen
Farmers and activists demand:
Exclude from patentability processes for breeding, genetic material, plants and animals and food derived thereof.
No patents on life!