[Opinion] It's Time to Reexamine the Seed Industry

Plant seeds may seem common and simple, but they contain the genetic blueprint of plant life. As such, seeds are like semiconductors in the fourth industrial revolution, determining crop performance and becoming a core element of the green bio industry. Moreover, by providing raw materials for plant-based pharmaceuticals, energy, and manufacturing, they influence the added value of red and white bio industries. The seed industry is built on promising future technologies of BT (biotechnology), IT (information technology), NT (nanotechnology), and ET (environmental technology), from developing superior varieties to seed production, quality management, commercialization, distribution, marketing, and technical services. This is why the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) chairman also serves as the secretary-general of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) that oversees plant variety protection. The global seed market grew rapidly ...