b'Want to zoom in more to get the big picture? Make sure to visit online to dive in deeper to seed consolidation: philhowardnet.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/Seed2018-1.pdf. half the worlds market forIn the realm of IP, thatPropelling the Discussionfirms. The rest of the players in proprietary seeds. means fewer firms are owningin 2022 the industry are left to access Why has there been sucha majority of the rights.With the increased consolida- their genetics from very few a rapid growth in the seedConcentration of the firmstion throughout the industry,firmsand theres starting sector? Howard notes that itowning IP has become anits easy to see both the prosto be a grassroots pushback. actually stems from the devel- issue in modern agriculture.and cons of intellectual prop- People are concerned they opment of the Plant VarietyOnce the intellectualerty. But why is the USDAdont have access to traits and Protection Act of 1970.property is granted, thesereally taking a closer look atgermplasm, and the notion That spurred a lot ofrights and the way theyrecompetition and intellectualthat you have to have a license acquisitions in the 1970s, headministered are fairly bur- property within seed? to access these materials says. The seed industry in thedensome, Cape says. PartlyCape says that while con- can be a lifeline for a small or U.S. was characterized by a lotbecause of the consolidationsolidation is driving a majorityregional seed business.of mom-and-pop firms thatissue weve talked about of change to a large degree,In some of the major com-were making a living, but notthese rights are now heldthe dramatic change hap- modity crops, without these making a killing. Eventually, itby very few firms, and whenpened after the introductionlifeline licenses, Cape says was the chemical companiestheyre held by few firms, itof the first biotech trait. smaller and medium-sized that ended up acquiring wellmakes it really difficult. TheThat was a game chang- seed businesses would have over 200 of the largest seedlicensing schemes that we seeing event, for lack of a betterlittle or no business. There companies in the worldandtoday are fairly onerous andway to put it, Cape says. Itsis an expectation that as IP those have been combineddifficult for midsize or smallerled to where we are today,protections expire (as they into these handful of firms. firms to handle. which is with these very fewwere designed to), the materi-DECEMBER 2022SEEDWORLD.COM /127'