Plant breeders, which includes the giant agri-businesses such as Syngenta and Monsanto, want farmers to give them more money.
Through their Canadian Seed Trade Association, they have been asking the federal government for legislation to impose fees on farmers.
Government consultations will start next month and be held in Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton and Ottawa, said Todd Hyra, president of the Canadian Seed Trade Association and business manager for Secan for Western Canada.
No dates or specific places have been announced.
Farmers are already paying a royalty on pedigreed seed, but said that’s not enough to encourage the level of plant breeding required to keep Canadian farmers competitive.
There are two ways farmers could be paying more. One is to pay when they deliver grain. The other is to pay every year for the varieties they intend to grow from saved seed.
“Most other countries in the world are using one of those forms now to incent investment,” Hyra is quoted in an article by Manitoba Cooperator.
