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According to Townsend, opinions
of UPOV 91 are often shaped more by
preconceptions than by reality.
“I think people have read the
legislation without being really objective
about it,” she said. “And UPOV language
isn’t simple. It’s legal text.”
She’s not persuaded when people
forecast doom and gloom.
“I think a lot of people have used this
as a way to say the multinationals are
going to take over, or farmers are going
to be put at a disadvantage. They said
that when we put plant breeders’ rights
in in the first place. The 10 year review of
PBR showed that none of the predictions
for higher seed prices and negative
impacts on farmers came to be.”
Despite some lingering (and
occasionally forceful) pushback,
Townsend believes the government can
expect wide support on UPOV 91.
“I think that most farmers understand
that they need those new varieties,”
she said. “Canada is not as competitive,
particularly in cereals, as the other
main wheat producing and exporting
countries. And farmers know that the only
way they’re going to get new varieties is
if we have the kind of environment that
investors and breeders need.”
At the CFIA, Parker believes that
criticism of UPOV 91 will continue to
fade once the new legislation is in place.
Before long, he said, Canada should
begin to enjoy the benefits already
evident elsewhere in the world.
“With many other countries that have
moved to UPOV 91, there have been
increases in the number of varieties
available in the marketplace; there have
been increases in the diversity of the
varieties that occur in the marketplace;
there have been cited increased levels
of investment, not only privately, but
also publicly and in private–public
collaboration.”
In other words, when it comes to the
long story of Canada and UPOV 91,
Parker predicts a happy ending.
Bill C-18makes changes to
the
Agricultural Marketing
Programs Act
and the
Farm
Debt Mediation Act
through
Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada.
Farmers
Helping Farmers
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· Up to 9% yield leader in 27
test station years
Cardale HRSW
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· Fusarium Rating – MR
www.seednet.ca
Seednet is seeking
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