Plant Breeders' Rights

[sumdumguy]

Central to the issue is the fact that taxpayer
dollars, universities and producer levies support
research projects. IMO, we all should own the
rights. If plant breeders want the profit, we should
step aside and let plant breeders foot the whole
bill. Its called free enterprise - risk and reward.

Registered seed growers replicate the seed and
they deserve to benefit and they should pay a
levy, but once the seed no longer has Seed
Status, according to the Canada Seeds Act,
anyone should be able to grow it without paying
any levy. Just my opinion.

[gustgd]

From AWC

The Honourable Gerry Ritz, M.P. Minister of
Agriculture and Agri-Food 1341 Baseline Road
Ottawa, ON K1A 0C5
November 25, 2013
Re: Modernization of Plant Breeders’ Rights and
adoption of UPOV 91 Dear Minister Ritz,
The Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC), on behalf
of more than 11,000 wheat producers in Alberta,
acknowledges your recent comments regarding
your commitment to ratify the International Union
for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants
convention (UPOV 91) by August 1, 2014.
AWC supports the modernization of Plant
Breeders’ Rights (PBR) legislation in Canada. We
believe such amendments to PBR legislation will
enable Canada to remain competitive globally by
encouraging investment in plant breeding
research. However, given the additional costs
related to UPOV 91 at the farm level and farmer
concerns the AWC supports the ratification of
UPOV 91 legislation in Canada subject to the
following conditions:
1. Farm-saved seed must be a part of UPOV 91;
2. Maintenance of the current level of federal
government funding of pre-breeding
Genetic research; and
3. Recognition and accommodation for a
farmer/public equity stake in Canada’s proprietary
cereal’s germplasm, which has been developed
over the past 100 years and funded by producer
and tax-payer dollars.
The AWC would be pleased to discuss the above
conditions in detail to ensure farmer support for
this major change in the business model around
genetic research.
We appreciate that the Government has made it a
priority to work to modify legislation to comply with
UPOV 91 and we look forward to its rapid
adoption with the above noted conditions. The
AWC looks forward to working with Agriculture
and Agri-Food Canada to improve Alberta’s wheat
producer’s international competitiveness through
access to innovative traits and varieties.
Sincerely,
Kent Erickson
Chairman of the Board Alberta Wheat
Commission

[wd9]

Quite the discovery, the seed trade wants
tighter IP protection. I never saw that
one coming.

Whoda thunk.

[grower99]

Is it correct to assume Ag Canada's
breeders will continue to work on
disease,drought...traits and then have
private breeders use these to release
varieties with fees,royalties and end use
levies. Is this how the Canola Commission
does research as they don't release their
own varieties? No argument needed just
looking for info.

[wd9]

They will, but since the funding keeps
getting cut and no new students enter
breeding, where do you think breeding will
go? We need investment, and we are gonna
have to pay for it.

[charliep]

A couple of us were at a Alberta Wheat Commission meeting yesterday where there was a lot of really good discussion on this topic. I highlight the following from the AWC press release.

We believe such amendments to PBR legislation will enable Canada to remain competitive globally by encouraging investment in plant breeding
research. However, given the additional costs related to UPOV 91 at the farm level and farmer concerns the AWC supports the ratification of UPOV 91 legislation in Canada subject to the
following conditions:
1. Farm-saved seed must be a part of UPOV 91;
2. Maintenance of the current level of federal government funding of pre-breeding Genetic research; and
3. Recognition and accommodation for a
farmer/public equity stake in Canada’s proprietary cereal’s germplasm, which has been developed over the past 100 years and funded by producer and tax-payer dollars.

A lot of talk about what happens here in Western Canada but I think we have to look beyond our borders at what our competitors. Is western Canada keeping up with other countries in terms of terms of plant breeding and release to farmers? Do we have an environment that encourages investment or are companies putting their money in other regions of the world where there is more protection for plant breeders rights/better return on investment.

[charliep]

Lots of conversation here about advocacy. Lots of farmer meetings this winter. Has anyone been at any farmer organization meetings where resolutions on this issue have been presented, debated and passed. This could be for or against.

[wd9]

Of course not charliep, they bitch on
Agriville complaining after, in the case
of upov 91 nearly 20 years of discussion,
rather then going to the producer
meetings and make resolutions and have
their concerns heard. (generalization of
course)

[wmoebis]

Agree with AWC with the exeption of:
#1 should read: "No cost Farm-saved seed
must be part of UPOV91"

The way I read it (unless I've missed
something) they will be able to charge us
for the seed we save for seed.

Please show me I'm wrong.

[grower99]

Maybe the min of ag could explain to us
how this works without his minders behind
him. He farms 2500 acres in Rosetown and
in 2 years.. this is how it will be..