> Under this scenario, I don't see why anyone would develop new plants. Prior to privatization, many universities in ag states developed seed for the public do

> Under this scenario, I don't see why anyone would develop new plants. Prior to privatization, many universities in ag states developed seed for the public domain and farmers passed seed down from generation of farmer to the next, selecting and improving for conditions and yield along the way. Many of these are now considered heirlooms and can be purchased through Seed Savers Exchange or found in seed banks. Some have well-documented lineage, most are a mystery. There are plenty of reasons beyond money for developing new plants. I'm a pretty intense gardener. I select and create hybrids based on taste. I'm not particularly concerned about travel time from my back yard to my dinner plate or resistance to pests that don't exist in my backyard. Then again, "growing your own food is like printing your own money": http://www.ted.com/talks/ron_finley_a_guerilla_gardener_in_south_central_la.html http://www.ted.com/talks/ron_finley_a_guerilla_gardener_in_s... So maybe it is about money.