Amendment to Copyright Act to give farmers access to machinery software

Nov 29, 2022

The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) reiterates its steadfast support for Saskatchewan farmers’ right-to-repair their equipment.

According to APAS, competition is essential in agriculture input markets, there is limited competition, however, for repairs. Farmers own equipment but lack the tools to make rapid repairs when systems are protected behind copyright.

“Most equipment manufacturers build in software protections that restrict a farmer’s ability to perform basic diagnostics, maintenance or repair of their own equipment,” noted Ian Boxall, APAS president. “APAS members believe that when you own the equipment, you also should have the right to repair it in a manner that makes sense for your farm.”

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Video: Democratizing Gene Editing - Pairwise’s Vision for the Future of Agriculture

Pairwise has built its business around an idea that runs counter to how many companies approach innovation: make transformative technology easier to access.

In this Seed World interview, CEO Tom Adams discusses why broader access to gene editing could speed crop improvement, expand innovation opportunities and help agriculture address emerging challenges. He explains why Pairwise believes no single company can solve all of agriculture's problems alone—and why making advanced breeding technologies available to more organizations could accelerate progress across the industry.

The conversation explores how consumer trust influences technology adoption, why innovations like pitless cherries and seedless blackberries matter beyond convenience, and how future crop improvements could help address labor shortages, automation, harvest efficiency and other production challenges. Adams also shares his perspective on what the industry may be underestimating about the next wave of gene editing innovation.

Watch the full interview to hear why Pairwise believes agriculture is approaching an important inflection point for gene editing, and why the pace of innovation over the next decade could surprise the industry.

Topics Covered:

o Democratizing agricultural innovation

o Consumer trust and technology adoption

o The business case for sharing innovation

o Expanding innovation beyond major crops

o Next-generation breeding technologies