For more than 200 generations, farmers saved, exchanged and sold seeds from their agricultural production. Farmers did not just save seed; they were plant breeders who were constantly adapting their crops to specific farming conditions and needs. This practice ensured they developed new seeds, selected the best seeds and maintained diverse genetic varieties of seeds that were best suited for various agricultural and climatic conditions.

Growers now have to consider the legal, economic and seed quality factors associated with saving seed for planting.  Plant Variety Protection and utility patenting are mechanisms to encourage research and development that leads to improved varieties. However, the seed companies place restrictions on seed production and violations could result in civil action. Economically, saving seed can reduce production costs, but there are risks and added management that should be considered prior to making the decision to save seed.

One purpose of seed variety protection is to allow the developer/seed companies a period of years of exclusive rights to recoup costs of research needed for development of new varieties. This allows for research and development of new and improved varieties. Without this, there would be only limited plant breeding and variety development.

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