Who Owns the World's Seeds?
It might seem like a strange concept for people to ‘own’ seeds. In the wild, plants produce seeds, which are dispersed (spread) in many different ways, such as by animals, or on the wind. No one thinks about owning these seeds, they simply allow the plants to carry on!
However, since the 1930s, it has been possible for companies to ‘patent’ seeds that they have developed, meaning that they own the rights to the seeds and can charge others for using them. Now, many plants used for food, fuels and animal fodder have been grown from seeds that have been carefully bred to ensure that they are strong and will yield a good crop. Many of them have been genetically modified in some way to improve their changes of being disease free or to increase their resistance to pesticides. Genetically Modified (GM) or F1 hybrid seeds, which have been cross bred between particular types of plants can often not be saved, in any case, because they are genetically unstable.
Farmers who use these seeds have to pay the breeders and the companies that have bought the rights to own the seeds. If they save seeds and plant them another year, they must pay again for the use of these ‘Farm Saved Seeds’. Sometimes, it is illegal to save seeds from GM or F1 crops altogether and farmers found to be doing so can face big fines. It’s also illegal for farmers to give any surplus seed that they have saved to another farm for free. In the UK, some of the money from the sale of the seeds is used by the British Society of Plant Breeders (BSPB) to fund further research into breeding methods, creating stronger plants, more suited to being grown on a mass scale.
Photo: Pam Brophy
Farmers are not allowed to sell any crops such as wheat, barley or oats without first having had their crop certified by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). If they try to sell any seed that is not correctly registered, they face legal action. The same applies for any crops such as field peas or yellow pins grown for sale as animal food. These regulations mean that farmers are obliged to use only seeds sold by the big companies recognised by APHA. They are also often obliged to buy and use the correct type of pesticide to suit the crop - a pesticide that has been produced by the same company selling the seed!
BASF, Bayer/Monsanto, ChemChina-Syngenta, and Corteva Agriscience are the four big corporations that currently own the rights to over two thirds of the world’s seed and pesticide sales. These sales generate huge profits for the companies and they have been accused of ‘biopiracy’ by activist Pat Mooney of the ETC Group for eco-justice, who claims that the companies take the work and genetic material developed by small farmers, often in the Global South, and use them to make money. Mooney accuses the companies of “decimating the innovative contribution of public sector researchers and threatening the 12,000-year-old right of peasants to breed, save, and exchange their seeds.”
Read More: What is the Seed Saving Movement?
FAQs
Quick facts. Tomatoes, peppers, beans and peas are good choices for seed saving. They have flowers that are self-pollinating and seeds that require little or no special treatment before storage. Seeds from biennial crops such as carrots or beets are harder to save since the plants need two growing seasons to set seed.
Is it worth saving seeds? ›
If you purposefully cultivate some seeds to save each year, a large part of your crop growing can become self-sustaining, in seed terms at least, leaving you with funds to spend on other areas of gardening. But for most people, saving money isn't the prime reason for saving seeds.
What is the purpose of seed saving? ›
However, intentionally saving seeds from season to season has many benefits for gardeners and is fairly easy to do. Instead of purchasing seeds every year from seed catalogues and companies, saving seeds allows growers to be self-sufficient in growing their own seed stock.
What is the right to save seeds? ›
Seed sovereignty can be defined as the right "to breed and exchange diverse open-sourced seeds." It focuses largely on the rights of individuals to be able to save seed, and be independent from major seed companies.
What is easiest seed to grow? ›
Easy Crops to Grow From Seed
- Lettuce. Lettuce can be sown directly in your garden bed, or started indoors for transplanting. ...
- Peas. Snap, snow, and shelling peas are all best sown as early as the soil can be worked in spring. ...
- Radishes. ...
- Turnips. ...
- Beans. ...
- Sunflowers. ...
- Sweet Potatoes. ...
- Winter Squash, including Pumpkins.
Some seeds like Allium 'Purple Sensation' and Eryngium giganteum need a long period of cold-moist stratification with alternating temperatures. These are the most difficult seeds to germinate.
Is it better to freeze or refrigerate seeds? ›
Freezing is a great way to store seeds for the long haul. If you're planning on sowing them within a few years, it's probably not going to make a huge difference, though it couldn't hurt. Just be sure: Only freeze seeds that are completely dry.
Why don't farmers save seeds? ›
Second, most commercial growers don't save seed because the generation of harvested seeds will not uniformly contain all of the desired genetic traits of the original seed.
Is it cheaper to buy seeds or plants? ›
Seed packets are often touted as cheaper than buying plants, but once you add up all the costs of a proper setup for seed starting, plus figure in your time and effort, it might be more economical to just buy plants.
Why is replanting seeds illegal? ›
Legally, many varieties are under intellectual property protection that prevents saving seeds. Farmers sign contracts agreeing not to save and replant seed. This was critical to the deployment of GM traits in self-pollinating plants, notably soybeans. Utility patents allow for these contracts.
Clean and dry seeds, then store in low humidity at 45°F or less. Storage in a refrigerator is ideal, but if not possible, store in the coolest, driest location in your house. Label and date seed packets.
What are the 3 advantages of seeding? ›
Advantages of Seed plants: * The seeds protect the embryo from harsh environmental conditions. * They provide nourishment and parental care to the developing embryo. * The dispersal of the seeds to far-off places prevents competition among the members of the same species, thus preventing their extinction.
What seeds are best to save? ›
The easiest seeds to save from your garden are cucumbers, beans, peas, peppers, tomatoes, and watermelons, and melons. These fruit and vegetable seeds self-pollinate (instead of requiring pollen from a different flower to do the job) and are low-maintenance when it comes to the storing process.
Should I save seeds? ›
To preserve genetic diversity. When you save seeds from your own plants, you are helping to preserve the genetic diversity of the food supply. This is important because it helps to ensure that we will have access to a wide variety of crops in the future, even in the face of climate change and other challenges.
How many years can you save seeds? ›
Seeds that have been stored in a cool, dry place are generally viable for at least a year past the season for which they were packaged and may be good for up to five years.
What are the easiest plants to save seed from? ›
The easiest plants to save seed from are annuals that are open-pollinated and self-pollinated. Beans, lettuce, peas, tomatoes, and peppers are great vegetables for beginning seed savers.
Which seed has the highest viability? ›
Complete answer: The scientific name Water lotus is Nelumbo nucifera. It has the longest duration of germination viability. Even under ideal germination conditions, the seed can remain dormant for long periods.
What are the most sustainable seeds? ›
Heirloom and heritage seeds are the most sustainable types of seed.
What are the best seeds to keep you regular? ›
Since chia seeds are the best food to help you get (and stay) regular, it's only natural that chia pudding would be the best snack to help you poop. There are so many reasons why chia seeds are super healthy, and their fiber content is the main reason they're one of the best foods to help you poop.
