REAPING THE RETURNS ON INTELLECTUAL AND GENETIC PROPERTY

Commercial companies require a return on their investment in research, otherwise they will not continue to invest. They have therefore sought to protect their interests by patenting as much of the genetic material and techniques as they can e.g., seeds of new varieties of vegetables. They have also set up growers' agreements so that growers are contracted to buy seed and chemicals from the company for a certain length of time. Monsanto have been actively pursuing farmers who break such agreements.

Implications

Patenting (or plant breeders' rights) means that as new varieties of vegetables are developed certified seeds will only be available through approved outlets. This increases the costs at which the seeds are made available to growers as a premium will have to be paid to cover the patenting rights. It is most likely that the prices payable for such seeds will be beyond the reach of smallholders. So the seeds will have to be supplied to them through companies.