Dear all,
There will be no call with KWS. In an email they write: "best will be for "No Patents on Seeds" to carefully check the facts on their own using the public record. They may thereby realize that for both patent applications, highly reputable academic institutions are co-applicants. Depending on the final version of the published report, KWS reserves its right to comment publicly or not. To better understand the KWS position related to this topic, you may find this linkhttps://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kws.com%2Fcorp%2Fen%2Fpress-dialogue%2Fpress%2Fkws-believes-the-epo%25E2%2580%2599s-patent-decision-weakens-the-breeder%25E2%2580%2599s-exemption%2F&data=02%7C01%7CBram.de.Jonge%40oxfamnovib.nl%7C0878e8a73cf64819dac408d7e15d6dc0%7Cc42c6655bda0417590bab6e48cacd561%7C0%7C0%7C637225663709900444&sdata=%2F27%2B0n6a1%2FzesAR1g8ETZnfs4lwOweSfXjkCCKpOTGU%3D&reserved=0 informative."
The link contains some interesting information stating that "Patenting of such plants [i.e. conventionally bred] will make access to biological material for breeding more difficult," said Léon Broers, the member of KWS' Executive Board responsible for research, in Einbeck. "Yet breeders depend on having as much biodiversity as possible to breed new varieties with improved traits such as drought tolerance, resistance to pests, or higher yield."
These statements seem to be in opposition with their patent applications as included in the report. If you want, I can ask for some extra information and explanation on this?
I also expect to receive Bayer's comments today
Best regards,
Bram
Bram de Jonge | Seed Policy Advisor Sowing Diversity=Harvesting Security (SD=HS) Program Oxfam Novib | The Hague, The Netherlands | +31 (0)70 342 1 717 skype: BramDeJonge | http://www.sdhsprogram.org/