Seeds of confusion : the impact of policies on seed systems

Seed is basic to crop production. Next to its importance in production, food security and rural development, seed is a key element in many debates about technology development and transfer, biodiversity, globalisation and equity. The sustainable availability of good quality seed is thus an important development issue. This study deals with the impact different types of regulation have on how farmers access seed. I have analysed current regulatory frameworks in terms of their impact on different seed systems, provided explanations for their often unintended effects and apparent inconsistencies, and proposed some solutions to the problems that have arisen. This thesis builds on earlier work on seed systems, seed laws, intellectual property and genetic resource policies that I published in various media over the past twenty years...