b'GIANT VIEWSMOVIES LIKEPERCY OFFER US A CHANCE TO HELP EDUCATE BY NOW YOUVE likely heard the buzz surrounding theaccept it because many people dont new Christopher Walken movie Percy, which follows arealize how high-tech and innovative Saskatchewan farmer who takes on a big corporation overthe industry truly is, or how the tech-patented canola seed. nology benefits us as individuals. Percy Schmeiser passed away last month. His role inThe food we consume is personal the Canadian agricultural history books was a prominentand sometimes emotional, and we all one. The story is familiar to many in the seed industrywant to make sure what we put in and agriculture in general, so I wont get into my opinionour bodies is safe, high quality and of the movie. Many have already expressed what they feelresponsibly produced. are inaccuracies in the film. Al Driver,Instead, I wanted to take this opportunity to talk a President & CEO,bit about a wider phenomenon that we see every day,MY HOPE IS THAT WHEN PEOPLE Bayer Crop Science which is the publics misunderstanding of what we do in the seed industry and why the protection of intellectualSEE AGRICULTURE ON THE BIG property is important.A movie like Percy describes plants as Mother NaturesSCREEN, THEY ARE INSPIRED gift to humanity that are exploited by industry via patents.TO LEARN MORE ABOUT In many ways, plants are indeed natures gift to usbut when this worldview is taken to an extreme, it misses aOUR INDUSTRY AND HOW IT crucial fact.The seeds farmers traditionally used were modifiedBENEFITS US ALL.by humans for thousands of years through conventional breeding methods, well before the introduction of GMOs. Today, through modern technology, we are able toTo help build public understand-develop new and inventive traits and characteristics foring about the Canadian food system, seeds, and patents help us do that.our industry is collaborating more and In essence, we can work faster and in a more precise,more to help spread the word about effective way than Mother Nature can.agriculture and show how technology Farmers make the choice to purchase a companysbenefits everyone from the farmer to seed technology because they reap the benefits they wantthe end consumer. We are striving to and need on their farm. Seeds that are higher yielding,find new ways to tell our story and can grow and thrive in different weather and soil condi- share our perspective through conver-tions, are resistant to diseases, can defend against harmfulsations, social media and other means. insects or are tolerant to herbicides that kill destructiveMovies are created as entertain-weeds, have been game-changing for the industry. ment. Percy is no exception and the Consumers benefit by getting safe, high-quality food atmovie takes some creative liberties an affordable price. Farmers are able to produce more, onfor dramatic effect. Even though its less land, in a very sustainable way that helps our envi- based on actual events that happened ronment. The ability to patent our inventions and, in turn,decades ago, we should take the charge growers for those innovations, gives us the capitalstory with a grain of saltor a grain for research and development we need to bring theseof canola, for that matter. benefits to consumers and farmers. My hope is that when people seeThe vast majority of farmers do support the valueagriculture on the big screen, they that intellectual property law brings to agriculture. Peopleare inspired to learn more about our who arent involved in the industry may not as readilyindustry and how it benefits us all. 56GERMINATION.CANOVEMBER 2020'