Upov91 and Advances in research LIMAGRAIN CANTERRA

[TOM4CWB]

Note on Limagrain:
RRFN Reports from France — While most of us were preparing for a long holiday weekend, Red River Farm Network farm broadcaster Mike Hergert spent this past week in central France for Limagrain's 50th anniversary celebration. Founded in 1965 and managed by over 2,000 French farmers, the co-op is the leading French seed manufacturer and the fourth-largest seed company worldwide. The co-op is vertically integrated, from wheat and corn breeding, crop production, to milling and baking. A 26-member media delegation from nine countries participated in an exclusive Limagrain tour with Mike being the only US journalist on the trip. For photos, visit RRFN's (Red River Farm Netwrk) Facebook page.

"Saskatoon-based Canterra Seeds has entered into an international research partnership with Groupe Limagrain of France.

The two companies will develop and test new cereal varieties, with a particular focus on wheat.

"By passing Bill C-18 and ratifying UPOV 91, Canada is finally on a level playing field with the rest of the international plant breeding community," said David Hansen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Canterra Seeds. "For Canterra Seeds, this has thrown open the door to new opportunities we can pass on to our customers."

The government says the recent ratification of UPOV-91 in Canada gives companies like Canterra and Limagrain greater incentive to increase investment in research and development.

"Today's partnership announcement is a great example of how the Agricultural Growth Act is delivering for Canadian producers," said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "New and innovative partnerships like these create new research and trade opportunities that further invigorate Canada's modern, competitive wheat industry."

Completion of the agreement is expected to be done by the end of September."

CANADIAN GRAIN FARMERS WORKING WITH GRAIN FARMERS GLOBALLY... IN THE SEED INDUSTRY. Secan is Grain growers in Canada... who support UPOV91 to build a better seed industry in Canada... NATION WIDE.

Wake up. If you believe there is so much money in seed... become a seed grower. Secan membership is a cheap yearly membership fee.

[TOM4CWB]

More from RRFN:

Limagrain Celebrating 50 Years — Limagrain is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The French cooperative is vertically integrated, from genetics to crop production and milling to baking. Francois Viallet, who is with Limagrain Cereals Ingredients, says that integration provides valuable feedback to breeders. “Information goes transparently through all sectors so we are better positioned to give feedback to the breeders.” Viallet told RRFN that Limagrain’s future plans include developing international sales, targeting what he calls second transformation, which could involve a partnership with a wheat mill. Limagrain owns Jacquet, the leading industrial baker in France, with over a 50 percent market share. Limagrain operates more than 100 breeding stations all over the world, which includes Limagrain Cereal Seeds in the US. The French-based farmer-owned cooperative creates almost 500 new varieties every year. During a press trip to France attended by two dozen reporters from nine countries, Nate Cooling, LCS research assistant wheat breeder in Fort Collins, Colorado, talked about the company’s integrated chain system. “This system provides a local farmer with another avenue for his product that he normally doesn’t get. I think LCS's commitment to allowing better access to germplasm has been excellent.”

Limagrain CEO Favors US Farm Bill — There are some similarities among farms in the Red River Valley and those in central France, but, there are some very big differences as well. Wheat, corn and sugarbeets are some of the main crops in the region, but the size of an average farm in central France’s Auvergne Region is about 100 hectares, or 250 acres. During a presentation to journalists on a media trip to Limagrain’s headquarters Thursday, Limagrain CEO Daniel Cheron said speculation is bad for agriculture and that there needs to be some way to manage stocks in order to reduce the volatility of farm prices; something like the US farm bill. “Farmers in the US know that they will sell their product with a minimum price. That is a very good insurance system which is not the case in Europe.” Cheron says Europe’s subsidy is fixed, which does not keep up with the rising costs of production.

Limagrain Aims to Grow in the US — France has been dealing with its first heat wave in 12 years. During RRFN's visit to central France Wednesday, the temperature reached 104 degrees. According to Jean Yves Foucault, Limagrain board chairman, said something happens every year. “The yield here isn’t as high as it is in other parts of France. Farmers here go for quality wheat with high protein and baking quality. High protein is between 12.5 and 16, depending on the variety. In the north where the soil is deeper, yields are 7.5 to 8 tons per hectare. In the south where I live, we’re half a ton per hectare less.” Converting that to bushels per acre, that’s about 104 to 119 bushels per acre for wheat. Of Limagrain’s 9,000 employees worldwide, there are only 26 in the US working on wheat variety development with Limagrain Cereal Seeds. Foucault is very optimistic about Limagrain’s future growth in the US. “For the moment, we are only seven or eight percent in what is an enormous market. With all the money we’re investing in research I can only think that we will end up with ten to 15 percent of the market, particularly because innovation is a true value in the United States.” While optimistic about the future, Foucault is concerned about the European Union abandoning the Common Agricultural Policy, while the US maintains its farm bill support. The Limagrain leader is also very concerned about TTIP, the proposed free trade agreement between the US and EU. More RRFN photos can be found online.

Limagrain-Canterra Seeds Joint Venture — Limagrain has announced a new joint venture with Canada’s Canterra Seeds. Limagrain will own 70 percent of the joint venture, a long-term research project to develop wheat varieties for the Canadian market. A change in Canadian law allowing farmers to plant seeds from international providers, who will collect royalties, cleared the way for the joint venture. Up until now, Canada’s wheat research was done by universities and other public entities. Because of the new law, which is similar to the royalty system in Australia, private research may become the rule in Canada. Limagrain has also bought 30 percent of Canterra.

Farmers innovating with farmers... Globally.

[bucket]

And all with guaranteed government support.

Wonder if anyone is thinking about this new entities customers?

[ajl]

Why on earth would anyone invest one dime in wheat research right now? The world is awash in the stuff. Even this year you will be surprised how much is harvested in Canada this fall. Bucket is right: follow the money right to the doorstep of government. UPOV will empower seed companies to extract rents from farmers and everyone except Tom knows this. Repeal UPOV91 now.

[sawfly]

there is nothing to say that laws regarding patent protection should not evolve with time and technology .

maybe some things were needed , to protect the property of Open pollinated
seed breeders.

but it is so one sided now.
there has not been one novel trait canola ,( except 46A76) , no matter how old go public
since plant breeders rights were brought in.

no other products have this kind of protection.

the use contracts prevent open free public use . even after a patent has expired.

total supply management

totally restricting access to off patent products .

what other product is like that?

is it illegal to sell a 25 year old micowave oven , and then illegal for the next person to use it.

patents are supposed to expire.
that encourages innovation.

this system stifles research.
because you can charge whatever the market will bear for what you have now
forever.
because you bar access to old stuff.

auto makers should have such a scheme .

you do not own the car , you pay to drive it for a 5 years ,when you quit paying the car is destroyed .no one can own a used car . not even a 30 year
old car. ( harper and tom says it's best that way )

if you want to drive , at all ,you pay whatever yearly rate the automaker
says or you walk .

does that sound like seed canola or what?

and it soon will apply to every crop you plant.

i could be all wrong . but you just have to look at how canola has played out and press repeat.

[TOM4CWB]

You folks have been raiding the cookie jar for so long... that you think it is your right to stick your hand in and take cookies with no payment.

Your complaint about Multinationals does not hold water either... as there are many farmer owned seed systems and varieties.

Cheers!

[bucket]

What are you talking about tom?

Every year I get a r&d deduction.

I pay thru the nose for a new wheat variety. Use it for a few years and buy another that is supposed to be better.

Yields thus year will be down compared to Columbus back in 1988. So 27 years and really no improvement.

[bucket]

All these top notch genetics in canola at 70 bucks an acre for seed have guys under water on their ROI.

But it seems the seed companies are doing OK and always have been.

So who really has their hand in the cookie jar, Tom?

[TOM4CWB]

Bucket,

Grow Columbus then. Grow your own... no levies.

UPOV 91 gives you that right now. Why claim it rips off growers... when it does the opposite?

New genetics that provide better crops for those who choose the newer genetics.

An International agreement that simply funds plant breeders who in the future provide real value.

[bucket]

It might be an international agreement but if you would read the government releases and have another chad with gerry there is 125 million being made available under the disguise of helping farmers but in reality it's a government subsidy for seed companies.

A steady drip so to speak.

And **** do you miss the point sometimes.

You really are blinded by idealogy.

Still on that hunger strike?

[westernvicki]

Limagrain is a 100% farmer owned coop.

Yes 100% of shares are owned by farmers.
For the record, I have been told if you sell the farm you can no longer own shares. Amazing collaboration with tremendous success!

A multinational owned by farmers.

[bucket]

But funded by government thru the grid forward 2 program.

Maybe we should all become seed growers.

Actually this year in this area many are because most are barely getting their seed back. And the fortunate ones that get more don't need to sell to line companies - just their neighbors for seed for next year.

One difference - no help from a government research fund.

[sawfly]

i do not care if they are saints.
it is the absurd amount control of the market control this sector has.

if farmers had that much control ,
tom would call it communist
the conservatives would be takeing it away , which by the way they are
for supply management.

i have never said once their tech should not be protected,
but off patent stuff should be public domain like every other product.

[TOM4CWB]

Sawfly,

Breed and grow all the varieties you want... knock yourself out. If this is such a gold mine and easy ticket to print money as you make it out to be.

You expect the hard work of others to be yours... without any fair payment... and no investment or work on your behalf to create the seeds.

Speaking of Communist...

[checking]

Sawfly's logic is mild, and holds water.

I'm afraid your logic is dust.

Reread what he is saying about the shelf life of seed patents.