Soybean breeding and variety testing are supported in part by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Following are two major seed industry changes and how the U of A is responding to protect Arkansas producers. Patents and PVP will not be used to prohibit growers from saving seed for their own use. They will be used to protect the university's property rights in the transgenic conversion of an Arkansas variety or breeding line. The great number of soybean varieties now on the market creates confusion about which are best adapted to local conditions.
Producers tend to buy varieties with the greatest visibility in advertising and promotion campaigns.
Currently, all seed dealers have equal access to public varieties, so none have a proprietary interest in promoting a public variety. If everybody owns it, nobody owns it. Ownership will create an incentive for group members to promote a variety. Open to all qualified parties. Every member participates in promotion.