The Seedpod — Ep. 1: What UPOV '91 Really Means For Farm-Saved Seed

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Canada’s rules and regulations regarding plant breeder’s rights adhere to a convention that’s over 35 years old, even though there is a more modern, widely accepted convention that’s a mere 23 years old — UPOV ’91. Bill C-18, currently in the parliamentary process, will bring Canada in line with UPOV ’91, a move that has some nervous about farmers’ privilege.

In this very first podcast focused on the Canadian seed industry, the Seedpod, Real Agriculture’s Shaun Haney asks Patty Townsend, CEO of the Canadian Seed Trade Association, what the changes in Bill C-18 really mean for the seed industry, farmers and for Canadian agriculture as a whole.

You’ll hear what the adoption of UPOV ’91 means for varietal development, for the speed at which farmers may access new genetics and for long-term investment and development in Canadian varieties. Townsend also fully explains the rights farmers will continue to have under Bill C-18. We also get an update on when Bill C-18 may become law and be implemented.

And, finally, Townsend shares why a thriving seed industry is so much more than just about selling new varieties — you’ll hear her thoughts on what seed really means, and how new genetics play a key role in meeting consumers’ expectations now and in to the future.

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