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By Alice McFarlane

Seed saving rights

Farmers urge protection of seed saving rights

Jan 13, 2026 | 9:53 AM

Fourteen farmer and seed advocacy organizations have written to the Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister asking Ottawa to abandon proposed restrictions on farmers’ seed saving rights.

Thousands of Canadians signed an e-petition opposing proposed changes making it illegal for farmers to save seed from Plant Breeders’ Rights-protected fruit, vegetable, ornamental and hybrid crop varieties – even after paying royalties.

The change would remove these crops from the “Farmers’ Privilege” clause of the Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR) Act, the seed-saving provision Parliament deliberately preserved after rigorous debate in 2015. At that time, lawmakers recognized the importance of seed saving for farm sustainability and food security.

NFU President Jenn Pfenning said the Ag Minister Heath MacDonald needs to listen to Canadian farmers and not multinational seed companies.

“Parliament made a clear decision to ensure the PBR Act’s farmers’ privilege clause would work for farmers,” Pfenning said. “The Minister’s response to the e-petition supports the regulatory change, claiming the Act’s seed-saving clause should never have applied to horticultural crops and hybrid varieties. This raises concerns that farmers’ rights are intentionally being narrowed over time.”

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Pfenning said reinterpreting the law contradicts Parliament’s decision, takes money out of Canadian farmers’ pockets, enriches the world’s largest seed companies, and ultimately weakens our national food sovereignty.

Farm organizations warn that the change would force farmers who use these varieties to buy seed or plants every year, increasing costs, weakening autonomy and preventing adaptation to local growing conditions – at a time when farm profitability is already under pressure.

Katie Fettes, Director of Policy and Research with the Canadian Organic Growers, said since most vegetable seed is bred and sold by foreign corporations, grown abroad, and imported, this change would also make Canada more dependent on other countries for its food supply.

The letter stated that the big winners would be the world’s largest seed companies. Six multinational seed companies control 64 per cent of the global commercial seed market including Bayer, Corteva, Syngenta and BASF, Vilmorin & Cie (Groupe Limagrain), and KWS.

SeedChange Executive Director Jessica Wood said, ‘Ending the Farmers’ Privilege will not compensate for years of government cutbacks that have weakened Canada’s public plant breeding.

“We need varieties developed for Canada that are regionally adapted and climate-resilient, helping farmers build stronger, more sustainable farms” said Jessica Wood, SeedChange Executive Director.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com