b'Movies LikePercy Offer Us aChance to Help EducateBY NOW YOUVElikely heard the buzz surround- us the capital for research and development we need to ing the new Christopher Walken movie Percy, whichbring these benefits to consumers and farmers.follows a Saskatchewan farmer who takes on a big The vast majority of farmers do support the value corporation over patented canola seed. that intellectual property law brings to agriculture. The story is familiar to many in the seed industryPeople who arent involved in the industry may not as and agriculture in general. I wont get into my opinionreadily accept it because many people dont realize of the movie or what it depicts or fails to depict. Manyhow high-tech and innovative the industry truly is, or have already expressed what they feel are inaccuracieshow the technology benefits us as individuals. in the film and its controversial portrayal of the main AL DRIVER,characters role in Canadian agriculture.President & CEO, Instead, I wanted to take this opportunity to talk a Bayer Crop Science bit about a wider phenomenon that we see every day,Even though its based on actual events that which is the publics misunderstanding of what we do in the seed industry and why the protection of intellec- happened decades ago, we should take the tual property is important.A movie like Percy describes plants as Motherstory with a grain of saltor a grain of canola, Natures gift to humanity that are exploited by industryfor that matter. via patents. In many ways, plants are indeed natures gift to usbut when this worldview is taken to an extreme, it misses a crucial fact.The seeds farmers traditionally used were modified by humans for thousands of years through conven- The food we consume is personal and sometimes tional breeding methods, well before the introductionemotional, and we all want to make sure what we of GMOs. Today, through modern technology, we areput in our bodies is safe, high quality and responsibly able to develop new and inventive traits and character- produced. istics for seeds, and patents help us do that.To help build public understanding about the In essence, we can work faster and in a more pre- Canadian food system, our industry is collaborating cise, effective way than Mother Nature can.more and more to help spread the word about agricul-Farmers make the choice to purchase a companysture and show how technology benefits everyone from seed technology because they reap the benefits theythe farmer to the end consumer. We are striving to find want and need on their farm. Seeds that are highernew ways to tell our story and share our perspective yielding, can grow and thrive in different weather andthrough conversations, social media and other means. soil conditions, are resistant to diseases, can defendMovies are created as entertainment. Percy is no against harmful insects or are tolerant to herbicidesexception and the movie takes some creative liberties that kill destructive weeds, have been game-changingfor dramatic effect. Even though its based on actual for the industry. events that happened decades ago, we should take Consumers benefit by getting safe, high-qualitythe story with a grain of saltor a grain of canola, for food at an affordable price. Farmers are able to producethat matter. more, on less land, in a very sustainable way that helpsMy hope is that when people see agriculture on the our environment. The ability to patent our inventionsbig screen, they are inspired to learn more about our and, in turn, charge growers for those innovations, givesindustry and how it benefits us all.SW 136/ SEEDWORLD.COMDECEMBER 2020'