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Re: Natural Life Magazine #61 - Saving Seed Becomes Illegal

Connie Hoy wrote:
> 
> To all Seed list members,
> 
> As we all share a need/love of growing from seed I thought you would
> want to know what is quietly taking place.I will refrain from comment
> hoping you will read this page for yourself and direct your actions
> accordingly.One thing I think we can agree on is its not difficult to
> imagine this could forever alter gardening as we  know it and the
> uncertainty if they would be content with the commercial crops
> only....Please read and share this with others..Your opinion counts with
> your legislator.
> Connie Hoy
> http://www.life.ca/nl/61/seedsaving.html
> 
>     ---------------------------------------------------------------
> 
>             http://www.life.ca                      Natural
>             Life                     May 1998
> 
>                       Saving Seed Becomes Illegal
> 
>   Mississipi-based Delta & Pine Land Co. and the U.S. Department of
>   Agriculture (USDA) have received a U.S. patent on a new genetic
>   technology designed to prevent unauthorized seed saving by
>   farmers. The patented technology, called “Control of plant gene
>   expression” allows seed companies to control the viability of
>   progeny seed without harming the crop. In other words, the new
>   technology genetically alters the seed so that it will not
>   germinate if re-planted a second time.
> 
>   The patent is broad, applying to plants and seeds of all species,
>   including both transgenic (genetically engineered) and
>   conventionally-bred seeds. If commercially viable, the patented
>   technology could have far-reaching implications for farmers and
>   the commercial seed industry. If the technology is widely
>   licensed, it could be a boon to the seed industry – especially for
>   companies marketing self-pollinating seeds such as wheat, rice,
>   cotton, soybeans, oats and sorghum.
> 
>   If commercially viable, the new technology could mean huge profits
>   in entirely new sectors of the seed industry. For farmers, the
>   patented technology will undoubtedly mean greater dependence on
>   the commercial seed market. If widely utilized, farmers will lose
>   the age-old right to save seed from their harvest. And it appears
>   that corporations are already moving in this direction. Recent
>   reports say that Monsanto has hired Pinkerton investigators to
>   identify unauthorized seed-saving farmers.
> 
>   According to USDA spokesman Willard Phelps, Delta & Pine Land Co.
>   has the option to exclusively license the patented technology that
>   it jointly developed with USDA researchers. The USDA wants the
>   technology to be “widely licensed and made expeditiously available
>   to many seed companies,” says  Phelps. The goal is “to increase
>   the value of proprietary seed owned by US seed companies and to
>   open up new markets in Second and Third World countries.”
> 
>   Delta & Pine Land Co. is the largest cotton seed company in the
>   world, with 1997 annual sales of $183 million. Monsanto is a minor
>   shareholder in Delta & Pineland; the two companies have a joint
>   cotton seed venture in China.
> 
>                    [Copyright © The Alternate Press]
>                                   215
>        [May 1998 Index] [Subject Index] [www.life.ca Home Page]

 I don't really consider myself a farmer. The article refers to  the
large farming industry. I don't suspect the flower police to be
following me around in my garden. 
 Windy
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