Everyone pays the price as patent holders on seeds stifle innovation

The United States is one of only a handful of countries that allows companies to hold patents on plant varieties. As a result, a small number of corporations can—and do—suppress competition in the seed industry, stifle innovation and turn taxpayer subsidies intended for farmers into corporate profits. The US Department of Agriculture has found that two companies control more than 70% of US corn and soybean seed sales, and the top four cottonseed companies control nearly 94% of that market .