Conversely, breeders do not want trees in production plantations to flower. In this way, newly introduced genes, or even conventionally bred hybrids, are prevented from having undesirable impacts on other lands as they spread through pollen and seed. Development of sexually sterile trees would relieve industry and farmers of the need to consider how each new gene might affect wild populations in each environment where the trees are planted. Because it is easy to produce poplars vegetatively, sexually sterile trees present no problems for practical use. Those members who did not help support the patent process will still receive a reduced rate, but will pay about twice as much as the members who share in patent costs.
Licenses are also available to nonmembers at higher rates.
Having a license to use a patented gene gives industry confidence that it can use a new gene commercially at an affordable price. However, because biotechnology is a young field, a number of patents are in effect that cover most of the methods and genes needed to produce a commercially useful transgenic tree. Biotechnology companies like Monsanto see the cooperative as a place for their technology to be tested and developed into useful, credibly tested products for forest industries. The cooperative can help fill the traditional land-grant university niche of doing research to help the smaller companies and farmers to gain access to new technology, such as developing better wheat for Northwest conditions or finding ways to protect fruit crops from disease.