In recent decades, large seed companies have swallowed up smaller companies and aggressively obtained patent protection for their seeds. Because of the increase in patented seeds in recent decades, university plant breeders, small commercial breeders and farmer-breeders have less access to genetic material and breeding methods. Following the lead of supporters of open-source software, the Open Source Seed Initiative hopes to promote an ethic of sharing among plant breeders.
Isthmus contributor Mary Sussman reported on the open-source seed movement at UW-Madison in the February 21 issue, and discussed her story with WORT producer Dylan Brogan on the February 20 edition of In Our Backyard.
Listen to the interview.