Washington, July 14 -- Representative James P. McGovern issued the following press release:
Today, Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Congressman Greg Casar (D-TX) introduced the Fair Seeds for Farmers Act, new legislation aimed to break up Big Ag, protect farmers, lower food costs, and strengthen the U.S. food system by curbing corporate abuse of seed patents.
The legislation comes as a small number of giant multinational conglomerates exercise increasing control over the seeds that are vital for planting crops and growing food. These companies use sweeping patent claims and threats of litigation to essentially control what farmers plant and force them to buy expensive products-driving up costs for those that grow food and those who buy...