These were the seeds that humans have grown, improved, multiplied and saved from one year to the next to feed themselves and their communities since the dawn of human agriculture. Hybrids are revenue insurance. If seed cannot be saved by individuals and farmers for next year's crops, growers would have to return to the company for new seed each and every year. No matter if you cannot afford the seed because of weather related crop failures the year before. Over the years, mergers and acquisitions of seed companies led to the current, relative handful of transnational corporate seed giants, many of whom also just happen to be in the pesticide and herbicide business.
Food is good business.
Agricultural chemicals to grow food are good business. People need to eat. It is this knowledge, this pressure of time, and the obvious recognition of the almost limitless size of the international food market that has biotechnology, seed and chemical companies as well as whole countries competing for their piece of the future food and food marketing pie. Below is a detailed excerpt of RAFI's report on a recent announcement by vegetable seed giant, Seminis. The full report can be found at RAFI's web site.