To Establish a Farmer’s Right to Utilise GM Seed Stock in Future Growing Seasons.

 

This bill aims to establish farmers' right to reuse seeds from previous seasons. The legislature has found that

intellectual property protections placed on Genetically Modified (GM) seeds hurts small farming establishments and hurts

agricultural commerce in Minnesota as a whole.

 

This bill aims to authorize farmers to replant seeds from previous harvests. These seeds and their offspring are only

available for re planting 4 years after the initial purchase. Farmers may only use 60% of seeds procured from their

harvest. The historical practice of Minnesota farmers saving seeds from previous seasons and using them to replant their

harvest benefits both the state of Minnesota and commerce as a whole. The biotech seed industry has created a monopoly

by producing both the seeds and the pesticides and herbicides. These Genetically modified seeds are the only seeds that

can resist these pesticides and herbicides.

 

 

a. “Farmer” is a person who operates an agricultural establishment in the state of Minnesota who makes at

at least 40 per cent of their income from producing agricultural products.

b.“Genetically Modified (GM) Seeds” a crop containing genetic material that has been artificially altered so as to

produce desired characteristics

c. ”Biotech seed industry” companies who produces and develops genetically modified seeds that resist pesticides and

herbicides

d. ‘Saved Seeds or Seed Stock” seeds that have been saved from previous harvest and kept for planting

e. farmer may only use seeds procured within 4 years of the initial purchase and seeds must be planted on land owned by

the farmer.

f. The seed may not be sold in any form after the initial purchase.

g. After the initial crop the seeds must make up no more than 50 percent of sowed seeds p.

 

 

This bill is funded through the “agricultural seed oversight fee”, which charges Biotech corporations that hold patents,

the fee is $0.05 per thousand units of patented seed sold in Minnesota. This money is dedicated to the department of

agriculture to cover enforcement costs of this bill. The department of agriculture will create a task force that will

regulate the use of seed stock and settle disputes.

 

 

If a farmer violates the terms of this bill, they will be subjected to a fine of 30% of monetary gains yielded from said

crops or $400 USD however much is greater.

If a patent holding company infringes upon this bill they will be subject to a fine no less than 500 USD per seed

planted by the farmer whose rights are being infringed upon.

 

 

This bill takes effect on January 1 2027, one year after passage.