The farmer may survive and do well after the coming corporate revolution of agriculture.
But his autonomy may not survive, according to an American crop science professor.
“It may be an end to the staunchly independent farmer,” said Stephen Farrand of the University of Illinois during an interview at the Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference.
Farrand was one of the few voices at the conference that raised questions about how the biotechnology revolution will affect producers.
He said recent industry mergers and predictions that more seed companies and major grain and food processing companies will merge will have huge implications for farmers if they come true.
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Farrand said farmers may end up with two or three seed companies dominating the world market, reducing their choice of crops and varieties.
Grain companies and processors will work with the seed companies to decide what they want grown, and will then find farmers to grow the crops on contract. Since most seed will be patented and controlled, the farmer may have no choice but to grow what the companies tell him to grow, Farrand said.
The recent Monsanto-Cargill proposed agreement to develop, contract grow, process and market specialized crop varieties is just a hint of what’s coming, Farrand said.
Barb Isman, vice-president of Cargill’s Canadian company, said criticisms like Farrand’s have got the situation backwards. Close relationships between seed companies, grain companies and food processors will open the door to many more varieties of crops, not less.
“This is all about choice,” said Isman. “There will be a vast basket of choices.” More specialized varieties means more options, she said.
Farmers will benefit from the increase in contract production, she said, because contract production tends to be more lucrative than open production.
And companies on the production chain from seed development to contracting to processing to marketing will compete for producers to grow their crops.