Seeds – common Seeds – common inheritance or inheritance or

commercial property?commercial property?

Seed development – 10,000 years Seed development – 10,000 years oldold

Seed has been developed, swapped and Seed has been developed, swapped and savedsaved

Farmer bred varieties: open pollinated, Farmer bred varieties: open pollinated, sexually reproduced and breed truesexually reproduced and breed true

Since 1980’s institutional breeders produced Since 1980’s institutional breeders produced 75,000 new plant varieties75,000 new plant varieties

Small farmers have created millions of Small farmers have created millions of varieties varieties

Property rights and PatentsProperty rights and Patents

1930’s Hybrid seed developed – purchased 1930’s Hybrid seed developed – purchased each yeareach year

Before 1987- all plants in public domainBefore 1987- all plants in public domain Plant Breeder Rights Act – rights over plants Plant Breeder Rights Act – rights over plants

but farmers can save seedbut farmers can save seed TRIPs and Utility patents – patenting of TRIPs and Utility patents – patenting of

plants and breeding processes. Farmers plants and breeding processes. Farmers can’t save seed can’t save seed

Plant breeding in AustraliaPlant breeding in Australia

Public institutions ie CSIRO and GRDCPublic institutions ie CSIRO and GRDC Funded by government and farmer leviesFunded by government and farmer levies Patents mean costs have risenPatents mean costs have risen Governments encourage public/private Governments encourage public/private

partnershipspartnerships Research directed away from public good to Research directed away from public good to

corporate profitcorporate profit Costs passed on to farmersCosts passed on to farmers ““Yes, we do find that it is often the best strategy to Yes, we do find that it is often the best strategy to

get into bed with these companies”get into bed with these companies” John Stocker, CSIRO’s John Stocker, CSIRO’s former CEO,former CEO,

2008 cost of planting Roundup 2008 cost of planting Roundup Ready canolaReady canola

Farmers must be accredited by MonsantoFarmers must be accredited by Monsanto Farmers sign 2 contracts with Monsanto – Farmers sign 2 contracts with Monsanto –

cost $500 (discounted from $1000)cost $500 (discounted from $1000) Buy special Roundup formulaBuy special Roundup formula Seed is twice the price of popular non-GM Seed is twice the price of popular non-GM

canola seedcanola seed Technology fee of $10.20 per tonne of grainTechnology fee of $10.20 per tonne of grain

Terminator Technology and PatentsTerminator Technology and Patents

TerminatorTerminator Developed for where Developed for where

patents can’t be enforcedpatents can’t be enforced Plants can’t reproduce Plants can’t reproduce

unaidedunaided Being tested in US Being tested in US

greenhousesgreenhouses

PatentsPatents Rice Tec granted US Rice Tec granted US

patent over 20 traits and patent over 20 traits and techniques of Basmati- techniques of Basmati- American rice crossAmerican rice cross

4 claims struck down4 claims struck down Uncertainty on bio-piracy, Uncertainty on bio-piracy,

farmers rights and farmers rights and traditional knowledgetraditional knowledge

Biotech companies in Biotech companies in frenzy to patent genes for frenzy to patent genes for climate changeclimate change

Concentration of seed ownershipConcentration of seed ownership

In 1970’s, thousands of companies, none In 1970’s, thousands of companies, none had even 1% of markethad even 1% of market

Now 2 chemical companies own 35%. Now 2 chemical companies own 35%. Monsanto (20%) and Dupont (15%)Monsanto (20%) and Dupont (15%)

Monsanto developed Roundup in the 1970’s Monsanto developed Roundup in the 1970’s and Roundup Ready (GM) crops in the and Roundup Ready (GM) crops in the 1990’s1990’s

Monsanto’s stated aim is 100% of all seeds Monsanto’s stated aim is 100% of all seeds GM and patented by 2019GM and patented by 2019

Seed saving and development Seed saving and development outside corporate controloutside corporate control

Groups are realising the danger and are Groups are realising the danger and are trying to develop new networkstrying to develop new networks

Diggers ClubDiggers Club CeresCeres Seed Savers networkSeed Savers network IndividualsIndividuals