tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post6764231043057523734..comments2024-03-28T16:45:51.051+00:00Comments on The IPKat: Cropping the truth: patents, National Geographic and pernicious mythsVerónica Rodríguez Arguijohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05763207846940036921noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-82003064133856045472011-10-10T11:28:12.255+01:002011-10-10T11:28:12.255+01:00For those of us living in the EU vegetable crop di...For those of us living in the EU vegetable crop diversity has been reduced as an effect of legislation. Vegetable seeds can only be sold if on an approved list. To establish a variety on the list costs a considerable amount of money so seed firms only register the best sellers. Garden Organic have a way of supplying unlisted varieties that circumvents the law.Guynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-35942174020149828072011-10-10T08:29:11.742+01:002011-10-10T08:29:11.742+01:00@Roufousse -- thanks for letting me know about Sus...@Roufousse -- thanks for letting me know about Susannah, whose name did not appear on the SSRN front page for the paper. <br /><br />I see from your comments that you have thought a good deal about the issues which this paper raises. I'd be pleased if you get contact me by email at jjip@btinternet.com when it's convenient for you.Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01123244020588707776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-32938020871876577172011-10-10T01:52:49.852+01:002011-10-10T01:52:49.852+01:00Jeremy,
You address your compliments to the perso...Jeremy,<br /><br />You address your compliments to the person you know, but I would like to point out that there is a second author, Mrs. Susannah Chapman, who should also get her rightful share of the credit.<br /><br /><i>Both sides appear to be wrong.</i><br /><br />Grippeminaud le bon apôtre<br />Jetant des deux côtés la griffe en même temps,<br />Mit les plaideurs d'accord en croquant l'un et l'autre.<br /><br />[The quote has something to do with cats, in case you ask]<br /><br />I had never given much thought about the claim of reduced genetic diversity, but I wonder whether the paper itself addresses the relevant aspects, as much of it is concerned with IP.<br /><br />The real issue would IMO rather be the very nature of agriculture and of food production which has changed tremendously in the last century.<br /><br />I could probably survive without most of the "fantasy" foods mentioned in the paper such as apples and radishes, or find a less palatable, but edible, substitute. I am however quite convinced that a very sizable part of the "basic" calories on my plate comes from a mere handful of varieties, as suggested by reference 143 ("over forty percent of corn planted in the U.S. was Monsanto’s patented “Roundup Ready”").<br /><br />There are examples where crop concentration nearly caused the disappearance of its respective industry, e.g. bananas. The tasty and convenient Gros Michel variety was nearly wiped out by the Panama disease in the mid-20th century, and had to be replaced by the inferior Cavendish. The story is now repeating itself and a new variety will have to be introduced, but it won't be the fruit of the industry's own effort. One can live without industrial bananas, at least in developed countries. But what about a disease or a pest which would befall RR corn? How long could it take for replacement seeds to be identified, grown and distributed?Roufousse T. Fairflynoreply@blogger.com