I'm late and slightly offtopic but it seem only polite to answer the question(s). I've actually started yesterday evening but realized my would-be post lacks some serious cohesion. And actually I don't feel like re-writing it even now, so here's a short version.
Well, do you also oppose privatization of fertilizer, tractor, fuel? They're all agricultural input.
I'm not sure if you are just honestly asking about this or if this is a bit of a tongue-in-check question, but I'll go with the former.
Short answer - no. From my point of view (note: that is from small-scale, non-profit farmer/grower's view) the seeds are such basic products you simply
can't go around with them being under the patent. You are perfectly capable of working the field tractor- and fuel-less and fertilizer can either be ignored at worst or made at home from various organic by-products. With seeds under the patent, the biggest concern I have is the ability to be self-sufficient is severely jeopardized.
You know, breeders already have something like a patent system. Nobody's ever complained about that.
You'll have to explain with examples what you mean by that, sorry I don't get it right now.
It's exactly what it says on the tin. Plant patent act, Plant breeders' rights.
Ah, I understand now, my confusion was purely due to language constraints. When I think of "breeder", the word associated with it in my native language means in most if not all cases strictly someone who breeds
animals. I wasn't aware this can also be used for plants. The more I know.
To comment on your links - I do find those things a bit worrying, but not as much as GMO-related patents. I can expand on that further, if you are interested.
But you know what, you can dismiss what I said above, I think Frumple pretty much sums it up better than I ever could.
I'd... personally, I'd probably draw a line at any staple crops, especially if they weren't tailor made for very specific, very extreme environments. Luxury-ish crops -- like most fruit and probably many vegetables, as well as anything really exotic -- would be okay to patent, but stuff that could -- does -- have the potential for massive impact, especially in less developed areas... shit really should be public domain. Trademark a specific way of branding it, maybe -- that's going to net you plenty of profit in and of itself -- but keep the making of it open and readily available.
There's some scientific advancements we as a species really need to get off our asses, point to, and say, no, this is not going to be sacrificed for greed. Many food related advancements strongly fall under that umbrella, imo. If GMO et al is really doing as well as its proponents say, most it should be being spread as far and as wide as we can manage, not being parceled out for profit. And if the law is getting in the way of that, the law probably needs a pitchfork shoved up its bum.
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