Open source seed: more problem than solution?

This article asks whether open source seed really offers farmers a way out of patent dependence. It examines the licence conditions under which such varieties are shared and the practical hurdles that breeders still face when they try to use them.

The discussion also considers whether shared varieties can keep pace with commercial breeding programmes. The author weighs the promise of seed commons against the risk that unclear rights and thin markets leave growers with fewer reliable options.