RE: Terminator Seeds....

Chris et al., 
I know that this does not belong in the propagation forum.  Nonetheless, it
is already here, and as a geneticist and seedsperson, I believe that I need
to respond, with what I believe to be a voice of reason.  

The question was asked:
> Why can't they hybridize the seeds so they are 
> reimbursed for the cost of their research?

Quite simply, not all economically significant seed crops are amenable to
hybrid seed production.  Soybeans (legumes in general).  Small grains
(although there are some attempts to do so).  Rice (again, it can be done,
but is currently cost-prohibitive).  

And not all economically significant crops are produced from seed.
Potatoes.  Cassava.  Banana and plantain.  Palm.  These are generally
produced from divisions, cuttings, or other asexual propagules.  

You must also try to understand that the cost of research is huge.  The
Monsantos of the world have invested tremendously in biotech, and they "owe"
their shareholders a return on that investment.  The return from agriculture
--- regardless of its importance to the world --- is generally quite small.
Therefore, the companies spending the research money are simply trying to
protect their investment.  They have a right and obligation (to their
shareholders) to do so.  

Would the "terminator" technology eliminate the seed crops that feed the
world?  No.  Absolutely not.  The land races and improved varieties that are
currently the basis for food production in most of the LDCs would not be
changed by the use of this technology.  Why am I so sure?  The key to the
technology is that the plants which are to be protected (those that produce
sterile seeds) must be produced from seed which has been specially treated.
Without this seed treatment, ALL seed produced is viable.  

Can this technology leap from plant to plant, from variety to variety?
Probably not, at least not at high rates.  Viable pollen?  Sure.
Regardless, since the seed has to be specially treated in order to trigger
the sterilization event in the plant, any seed produced from plants which
had accidentally picked up the gene (if indeed this ever happens) WOULD
CONTINUE TO PRODUCE VIABLE SEED.  

However, what WOULD occur is that any genetic improvements been bred into
terminator-protected varieties would be completely unavailable to any
breeder or farmer who tries to use such a protected variety to produce seed.
This is a very different issue from that usually under discussion.  This
aspect would indeed increase the gap between the haves and have-nots on the
planet.  The best genotypes (most productive, most pest and disease
resistant, etc.) could wind up being produced by only those farmers who can
afford to purchase terminator-protected seed.  This will exclude an awful
lot of people.  

On the other hand, that is precisely where we all are right now, and the
currently available crop varieties are doing a decent job of feeding the
planet.  

I will respond to posts individually about this topic, but will not post
anything else back to this propagation forum.  These discussions do not
belong here.  

Rick Grazzini

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