A very serious problem has been affecting the vegetable, flower, and ornamental plant sector in Brazil: seed and seedling piracy, which has seen indiscriminate growth in the sector in recent years. The impacts of piracy affect society as a whole, compromising investments in research and development of new varieties, as well as promoting tax evasion, unfair competition, and potential risks to the safety and quality of consumed food. However, the producer is certainly the most affected link by this illegal practice, being directly impacted by various production losses, such as: segregation (non-uniformity of plants and fruits), decreased productivity, transmission and spread of diseases in the crop, lack of standardization and low quality of fruits, and lower profit margins. Furthermore, there are legal implications of this irregular practice, as established in Chapter XII of Decree No. 10.586/2020 and precautionary measures and penalties provided for in Chapter XIII.
MAIN CROPS AFFECTED
Below are the main crops where piracy is most widespread, according to a survey presented by ABCSEM: Strawberry seedlings: 50% Potatoes, leafy greens, green beans, flower seedlings and grape tomatoes: 30% Okra: 25% Cilantro and hybrid watermelon: 15% Hybrid melon: 10% Hybrid bell pepper: 5%
This initiative brings the sector together in support of this cause.
Led by the Brazilian Association of Seed and Seedling Trade (ABCSEM), the Brazilian seed sector for vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants came together to promote the National Campaign to Combat Seed and Seedling Piracy. With the slogan "Pirated seeds and seedlings: the producer loses," the initiative focuses on raising awareness among society in general, but especially among producers, about the risks and losses of this illegal practice. To this end, since 2025, the campaign has had an official seal, which aims to validate companies and products committed to the legal and ethical commercialization of these agricultural inputs in the country. Now, in 2026, the initiative advances with the launch of the Complaints Channel, created to allow irregularities related to the production, sale, and purchase of pirated materials to be reported quickly, securely, and completely anonymously. It is worth highlighting that the new initiative will be announced during Hortitec 2026 – the largest horticulture, protected cultivation, and intensive cropping event in the country – which will take place from June 17th to 19th at the Expoflora Park in Holambra (SP). “We are very confident in the reach of the campaign, because until now, the sector only developed a few isolated actions, which always hindered the massive fight against the problem. But, from this joint effort, which involves and reaches the entire chain, the fight against seed and seedling piracy will be much more assertive and effective,” believes Mariana Barreto, Executive Secretary of ABCSEM. Learn more about ABCSEM's Anti-Piracy Campaign and the Complaints Channel at: www.abcsem.com.br/pirataria.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.