flora patents are becoming more prevalent and not much is really known for the average house gardener . Find out why we should keep our seed letters patent free .
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Why We Need Patent Free Seeds
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Claire Luby of the Open Source Seed Initiative ( OSSI ) on the Homesteading & Gardening In The Suburbs Podcast .
Claire shared some literal industry insights for the home gardener which you’re able to heed to here :
Read on below if you require a summary of the interview :
About Claire
Claire is a co - beginner and former executive managing director ofOSSI , a 501(c)(3 ) nonprofit that fosters the ontogenesis of decentralised plant bringing up and source endeavour that seek to establish a more agroecologically - based and just food scheme through the development and release of open source plant varieties .
OSSI has build a net of 48 flora stock breeder who have released over 500 unfastened beginning varieties being sold by 68 seed caller in the US , Canada , the UK and Australia .
About the Open Source Seed Initiative – OSSI
OSSI partners with plant breeders who want to release new varieties that they have breed in an open informant fashion .
This means that they ‘ record ’ their variety with OSSI where it is posted in our database and spread seed with the OSSI assurance :
“ You have the exemption to utilise these OSSI- Pledged seeds in any direction you take . In return , you drink not to qualify others ’ use of these seeds or their derivative by patents or other means , and to include this Pledge with any transferee of these seeds or their derivative . ”
OSSI also partners with seed society or seed libraries that distribute or sell OSSI Pledged sort .
What is an OSSI Pledged variety?
An OSSI pledged variety is a novel potpourri that is distributed with the OSSI Pledge mentioned above .
This means that others have the freedom to apply that variety in any way they choose given they do n’t qualify others same freedoms .
OSSI also discover this using the Four Seed Freedoms :
Why is it important to keep plants patent-free?
Today , only a handful of companies account for most of the world ’s commercial breeding and germ sales .
Increasingly , patenting is used to raise the great power and control of these companies over the semen and the sodbuster that feast the world .
Patented seeds can not be save , replanted , or shared by Fannie Merritt Farmer and gardeners . And because there is no research exemption for patented material , plant stock breeder at university and small seed company can not use patented seed to create the Modern crop varieties that should be the foundation of a just and sustainable farming .
breathe in by the free and open source software movement that has provided alternatives to proprietary computer software , OSSIwas created to free the seed – to ensure that the genes in at least some germ can never be lock off from use by intellectual prop rights .
How can new gardeners help keep seeds patent-free?
place gardener can indorse alteration and help to keep seeded player devoid from patents by purchasing OSSI pledged variety from the OSSI partner seed companies . you’re able to see a list of them right here .
you may also attempt breeding your own change using OSSI pledged variety and pledge it back !
Resources
Learn more about the Open Source Seed Initiativehere .
Learn more about theOrganic Seed Alliance .
Some great book for bud plant breeders are :
multiply Your Own Vegetable Varieties : The Gardener ’s and Farmer ’s Guide to set Breeding and Seed Saving , 2nd Edition
germ to semen : Seed Saving and Growing Techniques for Vegetable Gardeners , 2nd Edition
The Seed Garden : The Art and Practice of Seed Saving
If you are interested in digging in to read more from the blog check out these post :
Always guarantee to manoeuver safely . All projects are strictly “ at your own hazard ” and are for information intent only . As with any project , unfamiliarity with the cock , animals , plants , and processes can be dangerous . Posts , podcasts , and video should be read and interpreted as theoretical advice only and are not a substitute for advice from a fully licensed professional .
