Is it true that farmers who use GMO seeds have to sign and "end user agreement" and are therefore prohibited from testing the seeds?

Expert response from GMOAnswers Admin_1

Tuesday, 27/08/2013 02:00

DuPont Pioneer requires farmers purchasing seed (biotech or not) to sign a Technology Use Agreement (TUA), not unlike an agreement that one would sign off on when purchasing new software. The TUA communicates what a grower customer can and cannot do with the seed. The TUA also communicates the need and expectation that the grower will follow certain stewardship guidelines (e.g., planting a refuge for Bt seed). The agreement does allow farmers to make agronomic comparisons and conduct yield testing for the grower's own use. In fact, our sales agents help customers set up side-by-side comparisons to help demonstrate how products perform on their respective farm.