Source: Latinnews Daily via Checkbiotech

On 21 June the Argentine ministry of agriculture defined the limits of "own use" for seeds obtained from previous harvests.

The practice of using seeds from a previous harvest to plant the following one, defined by farmers as for "own use", is widespread in Argentina. lt is, however, a practice resented by developers and suppliers of genetically modified seeds because of the ensuing dent in their profit margins.

US company Monsanto has complained for the last two months over what lt considers an "abuse" of the definition of "own use". lt is estimated that only 20% of seeds planted for the last harvest were purchased directly and legally from suppliers. Monsanto has also attempted to have shipments of Argentine soya to the EU confiscated, and allege they have not been paid due royalties.

The resolution, passed by agriculture minister Miguel Campos, is designed to regulate the definition of "own use" and favours the suppliers, both national as well as foreign. Farmers will not have to seek permission from the patent holders of a seed unless "the hectares planted exceed those of the previous period". Nor may the volume of planted seeds be greater than that of the initial legal purchase. The move, according to the ministry, is designed to promote the development of seeds, guarantee their quality and protect suppliers' intellectual property.

The resolution was attacked by the Sociedad Rural Argentina, one of the largest representatives of agricultural interests, who claimed that the decisions had been taken "unilaterally" when farmers were already negotiating the definitions of "own use" directly with suppliers. The organisation added that the resolution must be implemented gradually.

Copyright Latinnews Daily