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Everyone pays the price as patent holders on seeds stifle innovation

The United States is one of only a handful of countries that allows companies to hold patents on plant varieties. As a result, a small number of corporations can—and do—suppress competition in the seed industry, stifle innovation, and turn taxpayer subsidies intended for farmers into corporate profits.

The US Department of Agriculture has found that two companies control more than 70 percent of US corn and soybean seed sales, and the top four cottonseed companies control nearly 94 percent of that market.

In a May 2026 court filing in a legal dispute between two US seed companies, the Department of Justice said patents on seeds are obstructing competition and research in the agriculture industry.

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A 5.3-million‑year‑old whale graveyard has been found on the floor of the Indian Ocean

16 June 2026 at 12:05

When a whale dies, a very special natural phenomenon can come alive. The carcass might float at the surface for some time, attracting sharks and other predators. As it becomes weathered, it may start to sink, falling through the water until it eventually settles on the seafloor, where deep-sea scavengers feast upon it. The scientific […]

The post A 5.3-million‑year‑old whale graveyard has been found on the floor of the Indian Ocean appeared first on Knowridge Science Report.

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