June 23, 2026 | Supply: The Dialog | by , and
The US is one in every of solely a handful of nations that enables firms to carry patents on plant varieties. Consequently, a small variety of companies can – and do – suppress competitors within the seed business, stifle innovation and switch taxpayer subsidies supposed for farmers into company income.
The U.S. Division of Agriculture has discovered that two firms management greater than 70% of U.S. corn and soybean seed gross sales, and the highest 4 cottonseed firms management almost 94% of that market.
In a Could 2026 courtroom submitting in a authorized dispute between two U.S. seed firms, the Division of Justice stated patents on seeds are obstructing competitors and analysis within the agriculture business.
As researchers who work on plant breeding and seed coverage, we’ve got seen how that performs out. When enormous firms assert their patents, smaller companies and public plant breeders who typically lack the authorized sources to combat again are steadily dissuaded from conducting analysis and improvement which may really not be unlawful in any respect.
