The patent, EP3560330, granted to the German company KWS by the European Patent Office (EPO) in June 2022, covers maize with improved digestibility which is primarily purposed for animal feed production. It claims plants with randomly mutated genes and their harvest and the feed produced thereof. It covers, in addition, the usage of naturally occurring genetic variations for conventional breeding. On 14 March 2023, the international coalition of No Patents on Seeds! filed an opposition against the patent. At a hearing on 6 Nov. 2025 the EPO rejected the opposition, the patent will be upheld. The detailed written decision of the EPO can be found here. Find the press release here. In April 2026, No Patents on Seeds! file an appeal (German) against the decision of the EPO.
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An online info talk took place on 4 Nov.2025. More info here. Watch the recording here.
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The patent on the website of the European Patent Office
The press release about the opposition hearing (6 Nov. 2025)
The press release about the opposition (14 March 2023)
Demonstration at the KWS shareholder meeting (December 2022)
Report by No patents on seeds! about KWS patents (2022)
MEDIA REPORTS
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19.09.2024 - BioEcoActual (EN): Can you invent maize? Patents threaten access to seeds
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19.09.2024 - BioEcoActual (ES): ¿Se puede inventar el maíz? Las patentes amenazan el acceso a las semillas
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19.09.2024 - BioEcoActual (CAT): Es pot inventar el blat de moro? Les patents amenacen l’accés a les llavors
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04.04. 2024 - Inf'OGM (France): "A Dutch seed company faces up to KWS patents" (article as well available in French)
- 14.03.2023 - Bio Eco Actual (Spain): Oposición contra la patente del maíz
