{"id":126631,"date":"2026-06-12T09:33:08","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T07:33:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bioecoactual.com\/?p=126631"},"modified":"2026-08-01T21:27:02","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T19:27:02","slug":"seed-patents-now-is-the-time-for-the-eu-to-make-the-right-decision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bioecoactual.com\/en\/2026\/06\/12\/seed-patents-now-is-the-time-for-the-eu-to-make-the-right-decision\/","title":{"rendered":"Seed patents: now is the time for the EU to make the right decision"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recent\u00a0No Patents on Seeds!<\/em>\u00a0research shows an alarming trend in the monopolization of naturally occurring gene variants, especially those which can provide improved resistance to disease and stress conditions.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"seeds\"
123rf Limited\u00a9artmari<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At present, these natural resources are increasingly being patented as technical inventions. Once granted, the claims extend to plants obtained from crossing and selection using the patented genes. The current situation is hampering access to the most valuable genetic resources and putting our future food security at risk.<\/p>\n

According to statements made by the European Patent Office (EPO), industrial representatives and politicians, conventionally bred plants cannot be patented. However, our research shows the exact opposite is happening,\u201d says Johanna Eckhardt from\u00a0No Patents on Seeds!<\/em><\/p>\n

In 2025, we found around 40 international patent applications explicitly targeting conventionally bred food plants. Most of the applications claim naturally occurring gene variants as technical inventions and \/ or resistance to pathogens in plants that cause fungal or viral diseases.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis development is a serious threat to small and medium-sized breeding companies. We are being impacted by increased costs and new dependencies that fundamentally challenge our breeding operations both now and in future,\u201d warns Frans Carree, a representative of the De Bolster company.<\/p>\n

In 2017, a new rule was introduced into patent law to exclude patents on conventional breeding. Nevertheless, the European Patent Office (EPO) is still accepting and granting these kinds of patents. Recently granted patents claim maize, lettuce, spinach and tomatoes obtained from selection of the claimed gene variants and subsequent crossings.<\/p>\n

\u201cPatents on seeds can have serious consequences for agriculture. There will be much less choice for agriculture and horticulture. Many patents extend to the harvest and its use in food and feed,\u201d adds Annemarie Volling from the Small Farmers Organisation (AbL).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u00a9No Patents on Seeds!<\/p>\n

The European Parliament now has a chance to end the ongoing monopolization of seeds in their upcoming vote on the future regulation of plants obtained from new genetic engineering (NGTs). NGT applications are one of the reasons for an increasing number of patents on seeds. In many cases, NGT patents also cover naturally occurring gene variants.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the context of EU patents and NGTs, the EU should also think about the implications for the Global South. If seed monopolies promote concentration in the markets, this can have a massive effect on agriculture and plant breeding in other countries. We are all dependent on diversity in plant breeding and seed production to ensure regional food production,\u201d Nout van der Vaart explains for Oxfam Novib.<\/p>\n

In 2024, the European Parliament called for a ban on such patents being granted. In a vote scheduled for June, the EU will finally decide on a draft regulation in regard to NGT plants. At present, the current version of the draft regulation has no restrictions on seed patents at all.\u00a0No Patents on Seeds!<\/em>\u00a0is demanding that the regulation is amended to stop the ongoing monopolization of plant genetic resources. If the new regulation cannot put an end to this problem, then it should be rejected.<\/p>\n

Further information<\/strong><\/h6>\n
    \n
  • \n
      \n
    • Find the new report here:\u00a0https:\/\/www.no-patents-on-seeds.org\/en\/report-june<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Subscribe<\/strong><\/a> to Bio Eco Actual Newsletter and be up to date with the latest news from the Organic Sector<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Bio Eco Actual<\/em><\/strong>, International Organic Newspaper
      \n<\/em>      Read the Bio Eco Actual International Yearbok 2025 – Trends 2026<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n