Proposed changes would further erode this ancient practice – Cathy Holtslander

🌱 Why Farmers’ Right to Save Seed Matters — and Why It’s Under Threat

Seed isn’t just the starting point of every crop — it’s the foundation of our food system and centuries of traditional farming practice. But in Canada, proposed changes to the Plant Breeders’ Rights regulations would strip away farmers’ long-standing ability to save and reuse seed from protected fruit, vegetable, ornamental, and hybrid varieties, forcing them to buy new seed and pay royalties every year. Critics warn this shift would increase costs for growers, strengthen corporate control over plant genetics, and weaken food sovereignty, without any guarantee that seed companies will reinvest profits into public-interest plant breeding. Farmers, Indigenous growers, and organizations like the National Farmers Union are urging the federal government to protect what’s known as “Farmers’ Privilege” and keep seed in the hands of the people who grow our food.

👉 Read the full article here:
The Right to Save Seed — Watershed Sentinel
https://watershedsentinel.ca/article/right-to-save-seed