Karsten Ellenberg battle against the power of the potato seed industry. In 2009 he saved the potato variety Linda. The German potato grower has a successful business. However, he fought hard for this. He endured numerous reports from growers who said his organic cultivation was illegal. Ellenberg did not let himself be fooled. Meanwhile he stands with his company 'Kartoffelvielfalt' for a new self-consciousness among the German farmers. Just like him there are more farmers who oppose the seed industry. They end their dependence on the groups and choose their own marketing methods and own seed.
67 percent of the seeds are controlled worldwide by companies such as Bayer, Monsanto and Syngenta. The admission of new varieties is costly. Small providers can rarely afford the procedure, however large companies can. The new varieties are protected for 30 years after admission. During this period the producer earns money on the potatoes. Ellenberg thinks this is fine. The companies must also have a return on their investments. But what happens after those 30 years, species are removed from the market because they do not earn much any more, he does not agree. "After those 30 years it should be that everyone can cultivate the potatoes. It should not be that they disappear from the market just because the processing sector is not making a profit any more."
The growers argue that the new varieties are just better. They will give more yield and better resistance to bacteria and decay. Release of the races would however mean that every grower could produce the seed, which would lead to a lower quality. Ellenberg believes, however: "The danger of industrial agriculture is still that everything stays the same. If everyone has the same crop, then only ten different varieties of potatoes exist at a given moment. Ellenberg thinks it's a terrible idea.