The federal government is praising the benefits of the UPOV 91 treaty, but one Dauphin businessman doesn't think it will lead to many changes in the seeding industry.
Dauphin Plains Seeds President Jim Kaleta says some of the actions that are part of the treaty have already been happening for years.
"Farmers will still have the right to re-plant their own seed, which they basically always had unless you forgave that when you bought a new variety. Some of that was already taking place in the last 10 years already."
Kaleta says there have been a lot of changes in seed variety research over the past several years, even though UPOV 91 wasn't officially ratified.
In a news release, federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz says with the ratification of UPOV ’91, plant breeders have more protection and farmers will have better access to a wider variety of seeds.
