Everyone pays the price as patent holders on seeds stifle innovation
Summary
In the United States, a few large companies hold patents on seeds, which limits competition and slows down new ideas in farming. This situation allows these companies to charge high prices for seeds and use government money meant to help farmers to increase their own profits instead.Key Facts
- The U.S. is one of the few countries that lets companies have patents on plant varieties.
- Two companies control over 70% of corn and soybean seed sales in the U.S.
- Four companies control almost 94% of the cottonseed market.
- The Department of Justice says seed patents block competition and research in farming.
- Small companies and public researchers often avoid seed research because of patent risks.
- Patents stop farmers from saving seeds to plant again, which was common in farming's history.
- The price of genetically engineered seeds has increased by 463% since 1990.
- Farmers' crop prices have only increased by 56% in the same time period.
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