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

I don't consider myself to be a farmer either but how long can it be, if
this happens, before the seed savers become the only source for heirloom
plants?
roglun@fidnet.com
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That is not dead which can eternal lie,
and with strange eons even death may die.
HPL

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> From: Windy <Saxmanbc@bellsouth.net>
> To: seeds-list@eskimo.com
> Subject: Re: Natural Life Magazine #61 - Saving Seed Becomes Illegal
> Date: Monday, August 03, 1998 4:05 PM
> 
> 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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