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🗞️ Driving the news: Europe's diverse seed industry, vital for food security and biodiversity, faces threats as patents increasingly privatize seeds
• Although EU law prohibits patenting plants, technological methods allow agrochemical giants to patent seeds, complicating access for small breeders
🔭 The context: Patents on seeds are growing, driven by New Genomic Techniques (NGTs), putting smaller breeders at a disadvantage and threatening agricultural diversity
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Patent monopolies could reduce genetic diversity, making crops more vulnerable to climate change and endangering food security
⏭️ What's next: EU discussions on regulating NGTs and patents continue, with many member states opposing genetic engineering in agriculture
💬 One quote: "Patent holders can control access to plants, regardless of whether genetic engineering is used or not." — Christoph Then
📈 One stat: Around 1,200 seed varieties in Europe are affected by patents
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