RESEARCH
What is Seed Monopoly?
Seed monopoly occurs when a few multinational corporations control the majority of the global seed market. These companies typically do so through intellectual property rights—such as patents or plant variety protections—granted on genetically modified (GM) or hybrid seeds. Patented GM or hybrid seeds are sold to farmers under licensing agreements. Saving or sharing these seeds is legally prohibited in most cases. This limits farmers’ ability to save, reuse, or trade seeds freely.
Unlike traditional seeds that farmers could save, exchange, and replant freely, patented seeds are often bound by legal restrictions. This prevents farmers from reusing seeds after harvest and forces them to purchase new seeds every season, creating a cycle of dependency. Companies may bundle seeds with required chemicals (herbicides, fertilizers) as part of exclusive packages. Legal action can be taken against farmers as well.
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MONOPOLISATION
The Corporate Takeover of Our Food System
Rising prices are largely being driven by monopolies. With markets so concentrated, big companies don’t have to worry much about competition as they can just pass higher costs on to consumers and keep their profits flowing to shareholders. And this kind of corporate concentration is growing fast. Over the past 30 years, major food companies have swallowed up hundreds of smaller ones, part of a wider trend of mergers and acquisitions that’s become a hallmark of today’s neoliberal economy.
Around 25 years ago, ten firms controlled 40% of the global seed market. Now, after a string of mega-mergers, just four—Bayer, Corteva, Syngenta, and BASF—own more than half. They also dominate over 60% of the global agrochemical industry. In fact, across much of the food and agriculture sector, just four to six corporations are calling the shots.
GLOBAL SEED MARKET
Source: ETC group, 'The Food Barrons' 2022
The extreme concentration of power in the hands of a few corporations is generating record-breaking profits for those at the top. Controlling key points along the supply chain, these giants act like gatekeepers—leaving both suppliers and consumers with few alternatives and charging them at every step. By owning multiple parts of the supply chain, from production to retail, monopolistic companies can slash costs, boost their profits, and push smaller competitors out of the market.
SITUATION ANALYSIS
Big Agriculture
& Its Consequences
Industrial farming methods that bring in massive profits for big agrochemical companies have come at a serious cost—to our health, workers’ well-being, and the environment. The widespread use of pesticides has been linked to chronic illnesses like cancer, heart disease, respiratory issues, and neurological disorders. At the same time, food production is already responsible for 25% to 33% of global greenhouse gas emissions—and that number is still growing. On top of that, Big Agriculture’s preference for monocultures has caused us to lose about 75% of plant genetic diversity since the 1990s, making our food systems much more vulnerable to climate shocks and disease.
GLOBAL GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM THE FOOD SYSTEM
PROFITS OVER HUNGER
While the current food system is doing a great job of enriching the ultra-wealthy, it’s failing millions of others—735 million people went hungry in 2022 alone, despite the abundance. We’ve handed over an extraordinary amount of power to a small group of private companies, giving them control over one of our most essential resources: food. These corporations decide what gets grown, where, how, and by whom—choices that should be made through democratic, transparent processes. Instead, they’re made behind closed doors by companies that have repeatedly shown they care more about profits than people or the planet, even if it means bending laws or taking advantage of global crises. A food system built on corporate monopolies is clearly broken.
IMPACT ON FARMERS AND INDIGENOUS PRACTICES
Foreign corporations dominating the market with patented seeds undermines indigenous farming traditions and reduces genetic biodiversity. Farmers face increased costs, legal challenges, and dependency on these corporations, which can lead to economic distress and erosion of traditional agricultural knowledge.
DECLINE IN NUTURITIONAL QUALITY
The focus on high-yield, genetically uniform crops has led to a decrease in the nutritional value of produce. Additionally, the accumulation of chemical residues raises concerns about long-term health effects for consumers.
NATIVE SEEDS
Loss of Native Seeds
and Biodiversity
Seed monopolies pose a serious threat to the survival of native and indigenous seed varieties, many of which have been cultivated over generations to suit specific local climates, soils, and cultural traditions. As commercial hybrid seeds, often genetically uniform and patented, flood the market, traditional seeds are increasingly pushed out of circulation. These native seeds are not just agricultural resources.
Their genetic diversity equips them with natural resilience to local pests, diseases, and environmental stressors, including droughts and climate shifts. In contrast, commercial hybrids typically require chemical inputs and standardized conditions, making them less adaptable to unpredictable ecological changes.
The disappearance of native seeds means that farmers lose their ability to respond to local environmental challenges with time-tested solutions, leaving agriculture more vulnerable to climate crises and disease outbreaks. This narrowing of the genetic pool also undermines global food security, as monocultures and uniform seed systems increase the risk of total crop failure.
Furthermore, the loss of traditional seed varieties severs communities from ancestral knowledge and weakens food sovereignty, especially in regions where agriculture is tightly interwoven with cultural identity.
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WHY NATIVE SEEDS MATTER. "LOCAL IS BEST"
Native plants are crucial for restoring ecosystems because they are adapted to local climates and soil conditions. They require less maintenance, support local wildlife, and help prevent erosion. Restoration projects, especially after disturbances like wildfires or development, rely heavily on these plants to reestablish healthy environments.
THE SHORTAGE PROBLEM
Despite the growing demand for native seeds, the supply is insufficient. Producing native seeds is a time-consuming process that involves collecting seeds from the wild or cultivating plants over several years. Suppliers face challenges such as unpredictable demand from large-scale customers, making it difficult to maintain adequate stock. This issue is so critical that the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a report emphasizing the urgent need to build a robust native seed supply.
SEED DIVERSITY
Efforts to Preserve
Seed Diversity
Seeds are the foundation of our food system. They hold the genetic traits that make crops resilient, nutritious, and reliable, playing a key role in ensuring both food variety and security. Every seed holds the potential for life and represents a vital link in the global food chain.
By preserving seeds, we help protect dietary diversity, improve public health, and secure future food supplies. In 2010, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reported that about 7.4 million seed samples were being preserved around the world. However, nearly half of those samples were stored in just seven countries, showing a clear imbalance.
To truly protect biodiversity, seed conservation must grow and become more accessible across the globe. Maintaining genetic diversity through seed preservation allows us to protect crops that can withstand environmental changes and helps preserve the cultural and agricultural heritage connected to them.
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EFFORTS TO PRESERVE SEED DIVERSITY
Assessment of Seed Needs: Identifying current and future demands for native seeds to support large-scale restoration efforts.
Seed Collection and Production: Enhancing the capacity to collect, produce, and store a diverse array of native seeds adapted to various ecological regions.
Research and Development: Investing in scientific research to improve seed technologies, germination methods, and restoration techniques.
Collaboration and Partnerships: Consultation with Federal staff, researchers, non-federal partners, private industry, and other seed experts.
Education and Outreach: Raising public awareness about the importance of native plants and encouraging community involvement in restoration activities.
CASE STUDY 1
National Seed Strategy
The National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration was developed in 2015 by the Plant Conservation Alliance Federal Committee, working together with both government and non-government partners. It was created in response to the same challenges that led to the launch of the BLM Plant Conservation and Restoration Program. Large-scale disruptions such as wildfires and environmental stress are damaging natural plant habitats, while the need for native seeds continues to exceed what is available. The National Seed Strategy aims to tackle this issue by improving coordination and setting up a clear framework to increase the supply of native seeds. Its core mission is to make sure that genetically suitable seeds are available to restore healthy and productive plant communities.
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CHALLENGES ADDRESSED
Seed Shortages: The strategy tackles the limited availability of native seeds, which hampers timely and effective restoration projects.
Climate Adaptation: By focusing on regionally adapted seeds, the strategy supports the development of plant communities resilient to changing climate conditions.
Biodiversity Loss: Restoring native plant species helps combat the decline of pollinators and other wildlife dependent on these habitats.
PROGRESS AND IMPLEMENTATION
The StoryMap illustrates various successful case studies and pilot projects where the National Seed Strategy has been applied, demonstrating improvements in restoration outcomes and ecosystem health. It also highlights ongoing efforts to expand seed networks and integrate traditional ecological knowledge into restoration practices.
