AFBF Asks Industry to Handle GM Crop Patent Expirations

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) has reportedly voted to amend
its policy on the expiration of genetically modified (GM) crop patents, calling
on industry to develop “a protocol for biotech crops before coming off patent.”
With patents set to expire for more than 24 GM varieties in coming years, the
6-million member farmers’ coalition has evidently asked industry to craft a plan
aimed at avoiding shortages or trade disruptions. AFBF delegates at an Atlanta,
Georgia, meeting apparently discussed grower and seed group concerns about
whether generic seed versions will be available and accepted by other nations.
“There just needs to be a way to deal with it,” said AFBF Director of International
Policy Rosemarie Watkins. See Reuters, January 13, 2011.