Author: Rocque Reynolds

Publisher:

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13:

This report examines the transformation of the Australian pasture seeds industry over the past twenty years from an industry based on grower/marketers to an industry characterised by specialist marketing companies, specialised growers often growing under contract, and public breeding institutions working in a new commercial environment. This transformation has been shaped by the introduction into Australia of plant breeder's rights (PBR) in 1987. The PBR Act allowed breeders to sell or licence their exclusive rights to deal with new plant varieties and encouraged the rise of specialist marketing companies to exploit these rights. In turn, the new specialist marketing companies have relied on specialist growers to grow seed under contract for their large modern distribution networks. The report examines the relationship between contract growing and plant breeder's rights; the attitude of growers to contract growing; and the legal status of the growing contracts. Although the report notes that there are significant drafting problems with contracts in the pasture seeds industry, as well as problems with the enforcement of PBR, the report concludes that the relationship between pasture seed growers and seed companies today is a strong one, based on joint interests and trust. The report found no evidence of the types of oppressive and unfair conduct which has been associated with contract farming in some of the international literature.