New technologies and new approaches have allowed the seed business to deliver greater value to farmers. Better pest control, improved yields, and value-added specialty traits are helping farmers produce food and fibre for the world more successfully. These changes are very good for agriculture, but they also demand changes in our operations. Increased investment in research and development is paying off for farmers. We hope to explain the importance of intellectual property issues to the seed business and their ramifications on trade.
Plant breeding offers tremendous value to Canadian farmers.
As we increase our ability to deliver more value through seed, it is essential farmers have access to all of the potential that lies in new varieties. For there is no better way to improve innovation in agriculture than with its first input - seed. But improving seed is no easy task. It takes years of research, extensive testing, and investments of millions of dollars. That s where intellectual property comes in.