Open Source (Free) Seeds!

[shorena]

"Most commercial vegetable seeds are
hybrids, which come with a kind of built-in
security lock; if you replant seed from a
hybrid, you won't get exactly the same kind
of plant. (For this reason, some seed
companies don't bother getting patents on
their hybrids.)"

But now these people made open source seeds. Anyone can use them and also use the seeds from the old plants.


Awesome, I hope more and more researchers will do this.


 www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/04/17/303772556/plant-breeders-release-first-open-source-seeds

[blacksails]

I think that's mostly a US problem currently. I've never heard something as stupid as needing patents to take seeds from plants, lol.
Also, a plant derived from a seed will not be the same as the plant it derived from, and that's the way nature created it.
But I guess it's a good idea with open source plants to stop patents and stuff lol!

[byt411]

I think that's mostly a US problem currently. I've never heard something as stupid as needing patents to take seeds from plants, lol.
Also, a plant derived from a seed will not be the same as the plant it derived from, and that's the way nature created it.
But I guess it's a good idea with open source plants to stop patents and stuff lol!

Up to 85% of US corn is Genetically modified, could be this hybrid thing or not.
You can't even eat proper vegetables from the nature.

[jbrnt]

I have read somewhere that some insecticide/weed-killer manufacturers sell GM seeds which are immune to their insecticide/weed-killer. Farmers can spray their crop, killing everything except the their GM crops. These farm grown GM crops do not produce seeds.

[shorena]

I have read somewhere that some insecticide/weed-killer manufacturers sell GM seeds which are immune to their insecticide/weed-killer. Farmers can spray their crop, killing everything except the their GM crops. These farm grown GM crops do not produce seeds.

I was speechless when I first read about plants that dont have seeds. But it looks like it pays off for the farmers.

I think that's mostly a US problem currently. I've never heard something as stupid as needing patents to take seeds from plants, lol.
Also, a plant derived from a seed will not be the same as the plant it derived from, and that's the way nature created it.
But I guess it's a good idea with open source plants to stop patents and stuff lol!

Up to 85% of US corn is Genetically modified, could be this hybrid thing or not.
You can't even eat proper vegetables from the nature.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Gmo_acreage_world_2009.PNG

From what I read, it looks like argentinia is leading with 72%, but the USA have the biggest area compared to others countries.

[blacksails]

I have read somewhere that some insecticide/weed-killer manufacturers sell GM seeds which are immune to their insecticide/weed-killer. Farmers can spray their crop, killing everything except the their GM crops. These farm grown GM crops do not produce seeds.

Yep, Monsanto is one of them. RoundUp is a quite famous brand. They modify the crops to survive more of the companies poison, not produce more food and stuff.

[jbrnt]

Yep, Monsanto is one of them. RoundUp is a quite famous brand. They modify the crops to survive more of the companies poison, not produce more food and stuff.

Thanks for the corp names!
I went to Monsanto's website and see how they would advertise their products  
"Herbicide tolerance" "Insect tolerance" "Drought tolerance"
http://www.monsanto.com/products/pages/monsanto-agricultural-seeds.aspx

But now these people made open source seeds. Anyone can use them and also use the seeds from the old plants.
Awesome, I hope more and more researchers will do this.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/04/17/303772556/plant-breeders-release-first-open-source-seeds

I really like the idea of attaching a "open source licence" to seeds, but farmers will not. I watched a program about a farmer spent 5 years breeding a sweeter and less bitter brussels sprouts and I am sure he is not sharing his seeds.... and there are flower breeders too.

[shorena]

-snip-
I really like the idea of attaching a "open source licence" to seeds, but farmers will not. I watched a program about a farmer spent 5 years breeding a sweeter and less bitter brussels sprouts and I am sure he is not sharing his seeds.... and there are flower breeders too.

Yeah, I think that as well, but you will never know. Maybe not all farmers are after profit. Especially the small farms must find a niche. "All natural open source veggies", Id buy that, even if it was a little more expensive.