Gene Patents and Farmer Seed Saving: A Review of Case Law and Its Effect on Variety Access

Authors

  • Ceslovas-J Cesnaviciene Centre for Technology Law, Dainava Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Druskininkai, Lithuania Author
  • Marilena-C Kakoullis Centre for Biotechnology Policy, Akamas Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Polis, Cyprus Author
  • Helena-M Ercegovac Department of Seed Technology, Dalmatinska Zagora Centre for Plant Genome Engineering, Knin, Croatia Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22666472

Keywords:

Gene Patents and Farmer Seed Saving; Agricultural biotechnology; Gene editing; Evidence synthesis; Biosafety regulation

Abstract

Gene Patents and Farmer Seed Saving has moved quickly from a research idea to something a working breeding or production
programme can actually use, but the evidence behind it has not always kept pace. We pull together the current evidence for gene
patents and farmer seed saving, covering the methodological, practical, regulatory and cost angles, with an eye on where practice
has genuinely settled and where researchers and regulators are still largely working it out for themselves. Selective,
context-specific adoption looks better supported by the evidence gathered here than either broad rollout or blanket avoidance.

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Castellani R, Ristic C, et al. "Gene Patents and Farmer Seed Saving: a confined-trial evaluation". Crop Sci 32(2014): 432-443. DOI: 10.1093/medlaw/fwad013

Dumitrescu A, Andric D, et al. "Gene Patents and Farmer Seed Saving: a benchmark comparison". Agron J 34(2017): 443-455. DOI: 10.2196/89834

Eriksdottir B, Brankovic E, et al. "Gene Patents and Farmer Seed Saving: a multi-generation study". Plant Physiol 36(2020): 454-467. DOI: 10.1007/s10916-024-02104-9

Farkas I, Ionescu F, et al. "Gene Patents and Farmer Seed Saving: a pilot deployment". New Phytol 38(2023): 465-479. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1896184

Grabowski P, Petrescu G, et al. "Gene Patents and Farmer Seed Saving: a case study". Nat Biotechnol 40(2014): 476-482. DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics15162117

Hendriksen W, Wojcik H, et al. "Gene Patents and Farmer Seed Saving: a meta-analysis". Sci Rep 42(2017): 487-494. DOI: 10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_20_65

Ionescu F, Foscarini I, et al. "Gene Patents and Farmer Seed Saving: a comparative trial". PLoS One 44(2020): 498-506. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1763884

Jankowiak G, Grabowski J, et al. "Gene Patents and Farmer Seed Saving: a stakeholder-survey study". BMC Plant Biol 46(2023): 509-518. DOI: 10.2196/48297

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Published

2023-06-20