Proposed amendments to Canada’s Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR) Act will not impact Canadian farmers who are acquiring seed lawfully, says an organization that represents Canadian private sector innovators in crop development.  “Producers who are currently operating in compliance with the legislative and regulatory requirements of the PBR Act and the Canada Seeds Act have nothing to fear and will see no impact from these suggested changes,” says Lorne Hadley, executive director of the Canadian Plant Technology Agency (CPTA). 

The proposed amendments will help to insure that those benefiting from the development of new plant varieties will support those innovators”. stated Lorne Hadley Executive Director of the CPTA.

Canadian seed industry views on the proposed amendments have been misrepresented in the public press and at public meetings by some organizations advancing various agendas, Hadley explains.  “This information has been harmful to the process and created confusion in the countryside on the purpose of the proposed PBR amendments.  It is essential that we remain focused on their real impact, which is a fair balance of protection of the interests of both farmers and plant breeders.”

The ability of a farmer to save their own crop as seed for use on their own farm the following season is actually strengthened under the proposed changes to the PBR Act.  The current act does not address “farmer’s privilege”, therefore this ability is a traditional custom not protected by law.

“The vast majority of farmers legitimately buy pedigree seed from their local seed dealer or seed grower to gain access to a new, better performing, variety,” says Hadley, “and, for this majority, the proposed changes just reinforce the good management practices they are currently using on their farms.”

“In fact,” he continues, “the proposed amendments will help ensure that, through their support of plant breeders and technology innovators, these farmers will continue to benefit from the development of, and access to, these new plant varieties.”

The CPTA is the lead industry organization empowered to raise awareness of the value of PBR and other mechanisms of intellectual property protection to plant agriculture.  The CPTA also monitors the seed marketplace and, when necessary, undertakes enforcement activities.