Major producers of genetically modified seeds, including Monsanto Co and Bayer AG, have long barred U.S. farmers from saving seeds after harvest to replant – a condition that allows the companies to charge every year for the technology.
Now, a smaller challenger, Stine Seed, wants to disrupt that practice.
Next year, family-owned Stine says it will give about 200 farmers in a pilot program the chance to replant genetically modified soybean seeds. The program is expanding after launching this year with about 50 farmers.
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If Stine’s program succeeds and expands further, it would represent the renewal of a technique that major seed developers view as a threat to the commercial value of their intellectual property.
Seeds in Stine’s program will include those containing a genetic trait called LibertyLink, which was developed by Bayer and licensed by Stine, and that’s created tension between the companies.
Stine plans to limit its seed-saving program to farmers willing to allow the company the option to buy the new genetically modified seed grown by farmers during each harvest.
The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. Read full, original post: Stine Seed gives U.S. soy farmers a rare chance to replant GMO seeds
