4 ms·

Well. I have mixed feelings. Emotionally I feel the fact that (big) cooperations can own seed varieties (nearly like with patents) to be quite literally somethi

Well. I have mixed feelings. Emotionally I feel the fact that (big) cooperations can own seed varieties (nearly like with patents) to be quite literally something that makes me boil. In general I do not like the fact, that it is easy for others to claim something that replicates itself as "their own"/"their property". On the other hand I saw a small tomato grower who developed and breed their own tomato varieties being ripped of by a bigger player, because they just couldn't afford to register a variety they painstakingly developed over years. The bigger player came, bought their seeds, grew the plants and two years later registered this variety as their own under a very, very similar name forgoing the necessity to develop the variety themselves. At least they did not push the other. smaller player out of the market - but they could have probably. I would love a system that enables some kind of (short- to mid-term) protection for the development effort of new varieties. But I also feel it is a right of the people to grow from their own seedlings. Something that even hybrid varieties do not offer. It is a difficult topic without quick and easy answers I fear. But for me - we buy heirloom seeds mostly locally/regionally, grow them, keep our own seeds every year and regrow from that. We also share with other hobbyists.

afandian 6y ago
Thanks for your perspective! Although I was referring to something a bit different — the state limiting the rights of people to grow and sell their own food, except for certain limited varieties. You may be "selling ornamental plants" today, but surely, only as long as the government looks the other way. You could be "criminals" tomorrow if the authorities changed their minds. I can think of few more fundamental rights than the ability to grow food to feed yourself and your community. Other governments round the world, and through history, have taken this to logical extremes. I'm don't want to turn this into a slippery-slope argument, but there are some slopes you just shouldn't step on.
- sdoering 6y ago
  > You could be "criminals" tomorrow if the authorities changed their minds. This is true. > I can think of few more fundamental rights than the ability to grow food to feed yourself and your community. Absolutely. And the moment most/all varieties are registered for corporations you do not even need additional laws. You could use currently existing laws to hinder people in growing their own food/food for the local community. I feel, that in Europe at least on the level of the European Court of Law we have some guardian of basic fundamental rights. But as a worst case one would have to fight through all levels to have this decided.

afandian 6y ago

Thanks for your perspective! Although I was referring to something a bit different — the state limiting the rights of people to grow and sell their own food, except for certain limited varieties. You may be "selling ornamental plants" today, but surely, only as long as the government looks the other way. You could be "criminals" tomorrow if the authorities changed their minds. I can think of few more fundamental rights than the ability to grow food to feed yourself and your community. Other governments round the world, and through history, have taken this to logical extremes. I'm don't want to turn this into a slippery-slope argument, but there are some slopes you just shouldn't step on.

sdoering 6y ago
> You could be "criminals" tomorrow if the authorities changed their minds. This is true. > I can think of few more fundamental rights than the ability to grow food to feed yourself and your community. Absolutely. And the moment most/all varieties are registered for corporations you do not even need additional laws. You could use currently existing laws to hinder people in growing their own food/food for the local community. I feel, that in Europe at least on the level of the European Court of Law we have some guardian of basic fundamental rights. But as a worst case one would have to fight through all levels to have this decided.