How Does Gene Ownership Affect Seed Markets? The various effects of gene patents on the seed supply

Abstract

As the consumers increasingly call for tighter controls on the food system and increased knowledge of the productions chains involved, the cultural practices of agriculture and techniques are gradually meeting these new demands of localized sustainability. However, in addition to changes how crops are grown, consumers are demanding changes in the genetic manipulation of the crops themselves. GMO technology presents an additional aspect to agriculture: a new realm of intellectual property. The patenting of life presents an issue in maintaining seed sources for these changes in consumer preference and the markets for seed, both GMO and non. This investigation asks: how does gene ownership affect the seed markets, and what are the effects of gene patents on the seed supply?