The use of Terminal Technology (Gurt) in Producing New Seed Varieties and Their Impact on Farmers

Abstract

In order to ensure a return on investment by protecting plant varieties, genetic use restriction technologies (GURTs) were developed and these are among the most disputed and controversial genetic engineering technologies because these techniques has been envisioned as a technique to compel the farmers to rely on the seed monopolies of multinational companies. In this review paper, the current proposed technologies have been described in detail and a comparison has been explained with respect to the gene flow, art of seed saving and multiple analysis with concern of the future prospective of GURTs in terms of benefits, possible impact on farmers, hypothetical analysis on agriculture, speculative dangers to the environment and that led to the restriction of this technology were creating problems about intellectual property rights.