JANUARY 2019 GERMINATION.CA 37 Ward Oatway President, Alberta Seed Growers On when an SVUA would apply to a grower: “The one myth that seems the most prevalent is they will lose the right to use farm-saved seed. Not true. This is about getting return on invest- ment for plant breeding through eligible UPOV 91 varieties. This is not going to cover everything, and they are not going to be forced into it. If you want to grow the variety you’ve grown for the past 15 years, noth- ing will stop you. This is only on new varieties, and you have a choice. If you don’t want to be a part of this, that’s fine. If you want to get in on the ground floor using the latest technology, then you need to be a part of this. A grower can go either way, it’s totally up to them.” On why a trailing royalty is better than an end-point royalty: “In theory the end point royalty system looks good on paper, but if no one buys into it — including the grain companies — it goes nowhere. The trailing royalty and SVUA is the best option because it will be advanced by the seed industry. It’s our very own solution to a complex issue.” On why the SVUA concept is nothing new: “When the first technical use agreements (TUAs) came out for canola, people read the fine print and said, ‘Man, this is the most draconian thing ever.’ The TUA is just a part of doing business now if you want to grow canola. The TUA is really only there for people who would con- sider abusing the system. Ninety-nine per cent of people out there don’t abuse the system. People resist things that are new and might come with more paperwork, but after a while it will be the norm. The controversy over TUAs died down quick once people realized the benefits of the new technologies available in canola, and the same will happen with this.” Lorne Hadley Executive Director, Canadian Plant Technology Agency On why we need the Seed Variety Use Agreement: “In Western Canada we have a strong pedigreed seed program, and many farmers do buy pedigreed seed. However, in many crops any- where from 60-80 per cent of the acres grown are not grown with pedigreed seed. They’re grown with seed the farmer produces himself by diverting grain off of his farm to seed use. Therefore, those acres don’t contribute anything to the plant breeder directly. The plant breeder doesn’t actually get paid for the success of his variety on 80 per cent of the acres. This system, if it’s implemented and used by producers, should increase that investment and will allow Canadian producers to have competitive varieties to use on their farms on a world basis.” On what varieties are affected by the SVUA proposal: “This system is based on three values: making sure that what’s being offered is of value or producers won’t pay for it; making sure the offer’s transparent; and finally, choice. The big myth is that all farm-saved seed would be covered. The fact is, no. Farmers, when they buy pedigreed seed of those varieties eligible, will sign a contract and agree to pay a royalty on any seed of that variety that they use on their own farm.”