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PG. 30 THE RURAL VOICE/APRIL 1981
BREEDERS' RIGHTS
Cont. from page 6
reference for breeders' rights supporters.
For more than 50 years corn. 'because it is
a hybrid and growers must purchase seed
each year. has been operating under a
system similar to breeders' rights.
Indeed. it is likely corn will not be
included under the legislation. Suppor-
ters rely on the corn example to illustrate
how breeders' rights could benefit both
the farmer and consumer. "If other crops
do as well as corn has. there will he no
problem," concluded Lynch.
Opponents are concerned that once
breeders' rights legislation is in place,
funding for public research could begir to
dwindle. That creates two problems. First
is that without the public sector
continuing its work. basic time-con-
suming research will be overlooked in
favor of work on the more economically
rewarding short -tern. high yield varie-
ties. The anti -lobby says this increases
the likelihood of inferior breeds, suscept-
ible to disease. Supporters say the market
system. because it has safeguards built in
through competition. won't allow pro-
ducers of inferior varieties to survive. "It
will in time." agreed Miller. "but only
after it has cost farmers."
The second problem. voiced by
opponents. is that without continued
work by the public sector. and with
financial incentives given to companies.
the opportunity exists for multinationals
to develop monopolies. Miller challenges
supporters' comments that this pos-
sibility can be prevented by provisions in
legislation. "Once multinationals
gain this power. it doesn't mean we can
bring legislation in later on to counteract
it. Do you think that after breeders' rights
that the government will able to control
the multinationals? 1 don't think they'll
be in a position to."
An easing of government funding for
the public sector is. in fact. another
concern of Miller's. He uses as an
example Dr. John Aylesworth. a white
bean researcher at Harrow. who retired
late last year. Aylesworth has not been
replaced and Miller. worried because
white beans aren't a major crop. is not
convinced private breeders will assume
the Iowprofit research.
On this count Miller gets support from
Lynch. "That's the sad thing (not
replacing retired public researchers)."
admitted Lynch. "But we just have to
lobby to get people replaced. Joe is dead
on in that. There's no white bean breeder
down there now. and we'vc•ot to do our
work to make sure that man is replaced."
Allan. too. recognizes the problem.
"The government is dropping out more
Please turn to Page 51