Seed Sovereignty plan commits $180 million as DOJ steps up key seed pricing probe

The U.S. Department of Agriculture launched its Seed Sovereignty initiative on October 6, committing $180 million to sequence the national seed collection and widening a Justice Department review of seed industry competition.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the plan at a farm near Prairie City, Iowa.

The money goes to the National Plant Germplasm System, which holds more than 600,000 seeds from over 16,000 species. About 10% of the collection has been sequenced so far, said Scott Hutchins, USDA undersecretary for research, education and economics.

Researchers will use artificial intelligence, including the Energy Department’s Genesis AI initiative, to speed the work and find traits such as drought and pest resistance. Hutchins said the data will be offered to companies on a non-exclusive licensing basis. The effort builds on an earlier push in which USDA sought AI tools for germplasm data.

Alongside Seed Sovereignty, USDA and the Justice Department expanded their memorandum of understanding with a new focus on seed markets. Rollins said the department will examine seed pricing practices, licensing, relabeling and barriers facing independent seed companies.

USDA data show average crop seed prices rose more than 270% between 1990 and 2020. Corn, soybean and cotton seed rose 463%.

The same interagency agreement already covers fertilizer, where the Federal Trade Commission confirmed an antitrust investigation in May.

Source: DTN Progressive Farmer