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Ethics are an essential component in the development of any life-sustaining natural resource. While the genetics of much of the world's food supply originated in what are currently some of the world's poorest and most unstable regions, the modern development of plant genetic resources has primarily occurred in the world's richest countries. The concentration of control and benefits within seed has accelerated rapidly in the last half of the 20th century. Whereas historically plant genetics were considered a component of the Public Domain, there are an increasing number of national and international intellectual property (IP) agreements allow for private ownership and proprietary control of the use and benefit of this resource. Advocates of unregulated private dominion argue that private investment has brought public benefit by providing increased yields on decreased acreage. We believe that the trend towards consolidation and patenting have led to decreased scientific and technical innovation, improvements that are dependent upon high input chemical agriculture, an erosion of plant genetic information, and a tendency towards biopiracy by staking claim over the 10,000 years of agricultural traditions and peoples who developed plants into modern times. Of course those who invest in research and development need to recoup expenses and have the potential to make a profit, but not at the cost of stripping farmers of the rights to save seeds, narrowing available genetics, or risking damage to our food systems through monopolistic controls.
Organic Seed Alliance believes that as humans, we hold an important responsibility to steward resources in a manner that is just, equitable and recognizes the needs of current and future generations. We are working with farmers, breeders, lawyers and ethicists to develop a philosophical approach to seed development and stewardship that will include recognition of the valuable contributions of traditional agriculture and indigenous communities, promote farmer's rights to save and improve seeds, and support the long term integrity of the genetic resource of seeds. We believe this can be accomplished while recognizing and compensating for the investment of breeders, research and development.
We believe that the public good can integrate with commerce and that conservation can coexist with innovation. This approach will incorporate elements of the Open Source software movement, applications of the Precautionary Principle, and recognition of the value (social, economic, nutrient sustaining) of natural resources to future generations.
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