Question
Why can GM corn only grow one time?
Why can GM corn only grow one time? Seems to me that is a way to MAKE farmers buy their seeds year after year when they could just use non GMO seeds year after year without purchasing them.
Submitted by: Tysoniep
Answer
Expert response from Community Manager
Moderator for GMOAnswers.com
Friday, 11/12/2015 13:04
There are several reasons farmers buy new seeds every year, whether the seeds are GMO or not. The first reason is that farmers sign technology license agreements when they purchase GM seeds. The second is that if the GM seeds are also hybrids, the second generation grown from saved hybrid seeds will have significant yield losses.
Alabama agriculture teacher and farm blogger Jillian Etress explains technology agreements in this response, and states, “Farmers do have to sign technology contracts wherein they agree to a list of terms when using patented seed technology. For example, when we plant enhanced cottonseed, we sign a technology contract in which we agree not to save the seed from the crop to replant it next year. This protects the research-and-development investments of the seed company. After the patents have expired, companies no longer require a technology contract.”
Alberta farmer Jay Schultz has previously explained the problem with saving hybrid seeds, whether GMO or non-GMO:
“If the GMO crop is a hybrid, the resulting F1 generation could have less vigour or disease resistance making it less desirable for agronomic reasons… It's common practice to use certified seed which offers many benefits over reusing seed regardless of breeding process. For example we grow GMO canola, wheat and yellow peas. We buy new canola (hybrid) seed every year and buy certified wheat and pea seed to grow out for the following year to keep variety lines pure.”
Moderator Note: Wheat and yellow peas are not available as GM varieties. Canola is available in GM and non-GM varieties.
Laura Rutherford, a ninth generation North Dakota sugarbeet farmer, has also noted that “constant improvements are being made in sugarbeet genetics, and each year we want the latest and best variety of sugarbeet seed available.”
You might also be interested in this response from Professor Drew Kershen, Earl Sneed Centennial Professor of Law (Emeritus), University of Oklahoma, College of Law, in which he explains intellectual property laws relating to seeds and plant genetics:
In the United States, plant breeders can own intellectual property in seeds and plants through each of the legally protected property rights: plant patents, trade secrets, trademarks, plant variety certificates and utility patents. Farmers purchase seeds from local seed dealers, and farmers then own the seeds for the purposes of producing a harvest. But the farmer does not own the intellectual property in the seed or growing crop.
Distinguishing between the physical seed and plants and the intellectual property in the seed and plants means that the farmer can grow the seed for a harvest but cannot, in most instances, save the harvested seed for the purpose of growing another crop.
This is no different from a person who purchases a movie DVD. The person owns the movie DVD but does not own the intellectual property in the DVD. Consequently, the person cannot legally make a copy of the movie DVD.”
Answer
Expert response from Community Manager
Moderator for GMOAnswers.com
Friday, 11/12/2015 13:04
There are several reasons farmers buy new seeds every year, whether the seeds are GMO or not. The first reason is that farmers sign technology license agreements when they purchase GM seeds. The second is that if the GM seeds are also hybrids, the second generation grown from saved hybrid seeds will have significant yield losses.
Alabama agriculture teacher and farm blogger Jillian Etress explains technology agreements in this response, and states, “Farmers do have to sign technology contracts wherein they agree to a list of terms when using patented seed technology. For example, when we plant enhanced cottonseed, we sign a technology contract in which we agree not to save the seed from the crop to replant it next year. This protects the research-and-development investments of the seed company. After the patents have expired, companies no longer require a technology contract.”
Alberta farmer Jay Schultz has previously explained the problem with saving hybrid seeds, whether GMO or non-GMO:
“If the GMO crop is a hybrid, the resulting F1 generation could have less vigour or disease resistance making it less desirable for agronomic reasons… It's common practice to use certified seed which offers many benefits over reusing seed regardless of breeding process. For example we grow GMO canola, wheat and yellow peas. We buy new canola (hybrid) seed every year and buy certified wheat and pea seed to grow out for the following year to keep variety lines pure.”
Moderator Note: Wheat and yellow peas are not available as GM varieties. Canola is available in GM and non-GM varieties.
Laura Rutherford, a ninth generation North Dakota sugarbeet farmer, has also noted that “constant improvements are being made in sugarbeet genetics, and each year we want the latest and best variety of sugarbeet seed available.”
You might also be interested in this response from Professor Drew Kershen, Earl Sneed Centennial Professor of Law (Emeritus), University of Oklahoma, College of Law, in which he explains intellectual property laws relating to seeds and plant genetics:
In the United States, plant breeders can own intellectual property in seeds and plants through each of the legally protected property rights: plant patents, trade secrets, trademarks, plant variety certificates and utility patents. Farmers purchase seeds from local seed dealers, and farmers then own the seeds for the purposes of producing a harvest. But the farmer does not own the intellectual property in the seed or growing crop.
Distinguishing between the physical seed and plants and the intellectual property in the seed and plants means that the farmer can grow the seed for a harvest but cannot, in most instances, save the harvested seed for the purpose of growing another crop.
This is no different from a person who purchases a movie DVD. The person owns the movie DVD but does not own the intellectual property in the DVD. Consequently, the person cannot legally make a copy of the movie DVD.”