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In defense of farmer saved seeds

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  • Richard S. Gray

    (University of Saskatchewan)

Abstract

In many countries, farmer saved seed (FSS) competes directly with a highly regulated commercial seed industry that sells certified seed. Opponents to the use FSS argue that it reduces the royalty income for plant breeders and is inferior in quality, which reduces farm profitability. We argue that because farmers have knowledge about field history and the quality of saved seed, they can make profit enhancing decisions to use, or not to use, FSS. We also show that payment of royalties is a matter of intellectual property rights and not directly a function of the use of FSS. Notably, Australia actively promotes the use of FSS for wheat and has some of the highest levels of rates of royalty revenue collection in the world.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard S. Gray, 2021. "In defense of farmer saved seeds," Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies, Springer, vol. 102(4), pages 451-460, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:roafes:v:102:y:2021:i:4:d:10.1007_s41130-021-00162-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s41130-021-00162-y
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    5. Richard S. Gray & Ross Stephen Kingwell & Viktoriya Galushko & Katarzyna Bolek, 2017. "Intellectual Property Rights and Canadian Wheat Breeding for the 21st Century," Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie, Canadian Agricultural Economics Society/Societe canadienne d'agroeconomie, vol. 65(4), pages 667-691, December.
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    8. Ambec, Stefan & Langinier, Corinne & Lemarie, Stephane, 2008. "AJAE Appendix: Incentives to Reduce Crop Trait Durability," American Journal of Agricultural Economics APPENDICES, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 90(2), pages 1-11.
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    Cited by:

    1. Fredrick Bagamba & Proscovia R. Ntakyo & Geoffrey Otim & David J. Spielman & Bjorn Van Campenhout, 2023. "Policy and performance in Uganda's seed sector: Opportunities and challenges," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 41(3), May.
    2. Edward E. Onumah & Edward Martey & Bernhard Brümmer, 2024. "Nontariff measures and production allocation decisions of cereal farmers in Ghana," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 40(4), pages 749-772, October.
    3. S. Marimuthu & C. Vanitha & U. Surendran & Salah El-Hendawy & Mohamed A. Mattar, 2024. "Conception of Improved Blackgram ( Vigna mungo L.) Production Technology and its Propagation among Farmers for the Development of a Sustainable Seeds Production Strategy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-16, June.
    4. Adrien Hervouet & Stéphane Lemarié, 2023. "The Economics of Royalty Rates in Plant Breeding," Working Papers 2023-03, Grenoble Applied Economics Laboratory (GAEL).

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