Organic Seed Alliance and co-hosts Vermont Law School’s Center for Agriculture and Food Systems and National Center for Appropriate Technology, were joined by over 110 farmers, seed growers, seed companies, plant breeders, gardeners, and researchers for this 90-minute listening session focused on intellectual property rights (IPR) used on seed.
IPR decisions affect all growers, regardless of how they farm or garden (organic or otherwise) and have very real ethical and cultural implications for community seed systems. Listening session hosts invited participants to answer the following questions: How does IPR impact your farming operation, gardening pursuits, and plant breeding or research? What questions do you have about IPR, and what resources do you need? What resources do you already have? Are there opportunities for improving how IPR is used in the seed system?
