Pirates in the grass anger seed giant

WELLINGTON - New Zealand's biggest seed company, Wrightson, says piracy of proprietary seed lines threatens investment in the development of new plant varieties valuable to the nation's agriculture.

Wrightson said two smaller seed companies, Seed Production (NZ) and Temuka Seeds (1984), had settled legal claims made against them for selling Wrightson's "Concord" ryegrass labelled as "Italian ryegrass."

Wrightson has plant variety rights - a type of plant patent - for Concord, and claimed its sale by the companies was a breach of fair trade rules.

Both companies have settled out of court and have publicly apologised to Wrightson.

"Constant vigilance is needed to protect plant variety rights against piracy by those who can see a quick buck in misrepresenting seed ... or in selling a product they simply don't have rights to," said Wrightson's general manager of research, Warwick Green.

"Ultimately, New Zealand agriculture will be the loser if plant breeders cut their investment in new plant varieties for boosting productivity and profitability on farms.

"Why should Wrightson and other companies invest millions on developing and commercialising valuable new varieties only to see them pirated?"

New Zealand has 164 plant variety rights registered for pasture and amenity grasses, and arable and vegetable crops. - NZPA