Why should farmers pay for the use of farm-saved seed?
The income from farm-saved seed payments is needed to safeguard continued investment in improved varieties, bred for UK conditions. Traditionally, the royalties paid on certified seed have been the lifeblood of the plant breeding industry, and remain the principal source of income today. With farm incomes under pressure, however, use of farm-saved seed has increased significantly in recent years. This has hit total income to plant breeders, highlighting the importance of farm-saved seed payments, which now make up around 20-25% of the income breeders depend on for future investment. 8.
