I doubt many farmers in the entire world are operating on margins that allow them to invest in anything that doesn't return very soon. Consider... Company A s

I doubt many farmers in the entire world are operating on margins that allow them to invest in anything that doesn't return very soon. Consider... Company A spends 5billion developing a new variety that yields high, and sells it at price X. With no protection of the IP, Company B can pirate the technology and sell it for price X/10. A farmer can buy the the pirated version just once, and he'll thereafter have no expense to lay out on seed purchase. Any farmer who tries to do the right thing and invest in the seeds from the company doing the research will be out of business in a year, outcompeted by those wiling to pirate. Company A loses its 5billion investment and exits the market.