NFU concerned over possible changes to plant breeders right legislation

The NFU has raised a series of concerns over the impact to farmers by the direction of the current direction of the Seed Synergy Collaboration Project.

Speaking during a press conference at the NFU 2018 Convention this past weekend in Saskatoon, NFU members argued farmers needs are not being put first in the Seed Synergy discussions. They are most concerned that farmers are facing either a royalty collection at the farm level on every bushel of farm-saved seed, or an end point royalty on all grains sold.

“This is about extracting revenue from farmers, farmers who can ill afford it. This is the end game. I think we can be quite clear and quite blunt about that,” explained Terry Boehm, Chair of the NFU’S Seed and Trade Committee.

He argued that plant breeders right legislation always makes the same argument in favour of private companies, noting that they need this legislation to foster innovation and help with a return on investment. Seed Synergy is composed of the Canadian Seed Trade Association, Canadian Seed Growers, Crop Life Canada, and has representatives from largest seed and chemical companies including Syngenta, Bayer Monsanto, and Dowdupont.

“We can open up the potential for farmers and seed breeding in Canada though a number of initiatives. We do not have to go to restricting farmers to essentially said to the Syngenta’s and the Monsanto’s of the world, that we’re stupid enough to just give you money to maybe do something or maybe not. This is the program. There are no guarantees. There are no concrete numbers that are suggested in terms of where royalty levels will be, how much will be re-investment, what will be development, and what kind of varieties will be developed and what kind of end uses they will have,” Boehm said during the press conference.

“The reality is that in terms of varietal development, farmers have stepped up to the plate and are paying. They’re paying with their check off organizations. They’re investing significant amounts in breeding and public institutions for breeding in cereals and pulses and other crops.”

“Their investment is significant. It has created new varieties and benefits for farmers, without the restrictions.”

“We think that these mechanisms are perfectly functional. That public breeding has served us well.”

Boehm said there is also a shift towards varietal contacts which would require that no farm saved seed be permitted.

“At at the end of the day, the loss of the ability to save and reuse seed on the farm will come. This has been the end game of all of these mechanisms.”

In a news release on Tuesday, the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association countered that seed value creation is long overdue and that they firmly supports efforts to create value in the seed sector and reward those investing in breeding.

“Why wouldn’t farmers want both public and private breeders to develop new wheat varieties to provide more technology and choice?” stated Gunter Jochum, Manitoba farmer, Director of the Wheat Growers.

“As farmers, we don’t feel the status quo is good enough, and want improvements including more investment, innovation and competition,” added Levi Wood, President of the Wheat Growers. “Competition is good, so if a new system encourages and facilitates more of it, we feel confident it’s a move in the right direction.”