Farmers are overwhelmingly opposed to using seeds with a “terminator gene” that prevents the seed from reproducing in spite of increased yields, a Farmers Forum survey has found.

Of 100 farmers randomly polled at the Ottawa Valley Farm Show last month, 67 (that’s 67 per cent) farmers said they were not in favour when asked: “Are you in favour or against the use of a terminator gene in seeds?”

Nineteen farmers said they were in favour of the new technology, while 14 farmers were undecided. Most of the undecided said they needed more information before making a decision. Of those in favour, they argued mainly that farmers should have the freedom to choose, although some cautioned they are in favour of the seed if it is safe.

Seeds with a built-in terminator gene will not reproduce, meaning it would be useless to gather seed at harvest and replant it the next year. On the other hand, the farmer gets a higher yield, more efficient product and less disease. By buying new seed each year, the companies that make the seed argue they earn back the high cost of research that went in to creating this super seed.

Of those opposed to the terminator gene the main concern was not food safety. The biggest objection was multinational control over farming and multinational profit. Comments from these respondents were often strong and aggressive. “That’s just one more monopoly, another nail in the coffin,” said one farmer. (See other story on this page for more comments.)

One farmer offered a compromise solution. “If they put a restriction on the patent that would be alright,” he said, explaining that companies could be allowed to sell seed with a terminator gene for a period of, say, 10 to 15 years, until they recoup their research investment, and then breed the seed without the terminator gene.

The survey included 33 farmers who described their operations as cash crop, dairy and crop, or livestock and crop. Of those farmers, 27 were opposed to the new technology compared with 3 in favour and 2 undecided.