2001 : Agreement on Farm saved seeds

Bread wheat 2001 : Agreement on vegetal variety enhancement

Farmers have always saved seeds from their crops to sow new cultures. This farming technique is still partly being used for self-fertilizing plants such as wheat.

In parallel , farmers, followed by plant breeding companies have specialized in the creation of vegetal varieties. The new obtained varieties are largely cultivated by most farmers, including for farm saved seed production. However, until recently, only users of certified varieties took part in funding plant improvement research.

Since 1994, European regulation on vegetal varieties protection had allowed farmers to keep seeds for reproduction with an obligation to pay royalties to plant breeders.

In 2001, plant breeders and producers reached an agreement which opens up new prospects.