36 GERMINATION.CA JANUARY 2019 THE SEED SYNERGY partners have endorsed a made-in-Can- ada solution that they say will drive plant breeding invest- ment and benefit everyone in the agricultural value chain, starting with cereal, pulse and specialty crop producers. The Seed Synergy partners have declared their sup- port for the contract royalty option — one of two options being considered. The partners, comprised of the six major national seed industry organizations, recommend that the contract royalty option be implemented as a Seed Variety Use Agreement (SVUA). The SVUA would allow breeders, if they choose, to set a Seed Variety Use Fee (SVUF) on grain they divert back to their operation to use as seed (often referred to as farm-saved seed) that reflects an appropriate value for providing an improved variety to the producer. Why do we need the SVUA? The SVUA addresses the serious need for increased invest- ment in plant breeding to support Canada’s cereal, pulse and specialty crop producers. Variety development research for these crops is significantly under-resourced when we consider the long-term view with increased global competi- tion and the rapid pace of new technology innovations. I’m a producer, how will the SVUA affect me? The SVUA will provide you with accelerated future access to better varieties adapted to a broader range of growing conditions. An increase in plant breeding also means you will benefit from more choice. The SVUA system will posi- tion you to be more competitive in international markets. Producers will still have a “Farmer’s Privilege” to keep diverted grain (farm-saved seed) but will need to pay a Seed Variety Use Fee (SVUF) to the plant breeder for use of the genetics marketed under a SVUA. I’m a plant breeder, how will the SVUA affect me? The SVUA will ensure you receive a fair return on research investment for breeding work in Canada. Currently, in some parts of Canada, only a small portion of the seed used each year (i.e. the Certified seed planted, which is as low as 12 per cent of planted acres for some crops) provides funds back to your research program. While you are not obliged to protect your varieties, the SVUA gives you, as a plant breeder, another choice on how to sell your varieties in the Canadian marketplace. How does a SVUA work? Producers will sign a SVUA when they purchase a Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR 91)-protected variety. If they decide at harvest to divert some grain for seed use and plant it, they will be invoiced a Seed Variety Use Fee (SVUF) for use of the variety. This fee will be invoiced to the pro- ducer every year that the farm-saved seed of the pro- tected variety is grown. Will a SVUA be applied to all varieties? No, the SVUA will only be used on farm-saved seed of protected varieties. Many of the current varieties in use today will not have a SVUA. A proposal to place a royalty on the use of farm-saved seed of UPOV 91 varieties will address the need for increased investment in plant breeding. Compiled by Marc Zienkiewicz Want to learn more about the Seed Variety Use Agreement and the contract royalty option being endorsed by the Seed Synergy partners? Visit seedvaluecreation.ca! SEED SYNERGY: MOVING FORWARD SEEDVARIETYUSE AGREEMENT: KNOWTHEFACTS