Introduction.
The question of whether seeds exist that produce a crop for only one season and cannot be used for subsequent sowing concerns not only farmers but also anyone interested in food security and the influence of large agricultural corporations. For the past two decades, alarming reports about "terminator seeds" — genetically modified plants created by large corporations to force farmers to purchase new seeds annually, preventing them from saving seeds from their own harvest — have circulated in public discourse. However, the actual picture is far more complex and requires distinguishing between two different phenomena: on one hand, F1 hybrid seeds, which have long been present on the market, and on the other, the experimental GURT technology, which was never commercialized. For Ukraine, where the agricultural sector remains one of the key pillars of the economy, and farmers — from large agroholdings to small-scale operations — annually spend billions of hryvnias on seeds, understanding these mechanisms has not only theoretical but direct practical significance.

I. F1 Hybrid Seeds: Natural "Sterility" for Quality Preservation.
The most common seeds not recommended for saving for subsequent sowing are first-generation hybrids, designated with the index F1. These seeds are produced through the deliberate crossing of two specially bred parent lines. The process of creating a hybrid is labor-intensive and expensive, often taking many years.

The main characteristic of F1 hybrids is that their outstanding traits — high yield, disease and pest resistance, uniform fruit ripening, and size consistency — manifest only in the first generation. If seeds are collected from a hybrid plant and sown the following year, the resulting offspring (F2) will lose these valuable qualities. The plants will be heterogeneous, some will be unproductive, and overall yield will significantly decrease.

It is important to emphasize that F1 hybrid seeds are not sterile in the literal sense. They germinate and produce plants capable of bearing fruit. The issue is not sterility but the segregation of traits, which makes saving seeds for subsequent use impractical. Thus, F1 hybrids indeed require farmers and gardeners to purchase new seeds each season if they wish to maintain the same high yield and quality standards achieved in the first generation.

II. Terminator Technology (GURT): A Development That Never Reached the Field.
A completely different story concerns the so-called "Terminator Technology." Its scientific name is GURT (Genetic Use Restriction Technology) . Unlike F1 hybrids, which result from traditional breeding, GURT involves direct genetic modification of plants to render their seeds genuinely sterile.

In 1998, Delta & Pine Land Company, in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), obtained a patent for technology that would create genetically modified plants that grow to maturity but produce seeds incapable of germinating when replanted. The mechanism behind the technology involves introducing three genetic components into the plant: a toxin gene that kills the seed embryo and two control systems that activate this gene. According to the developers, such a system was intended to protect the intellectual property of companies investing millions of dollars in creating new varieties.

When the patent was issued, an international scandal erupted. Activists gave the technology the alarming nickname "Terminator." Opponents argued that introducing such seeds would place farmers, especially in developing countries, in complete dependency on multinational corporations, depriving them of the age-old practice of saving part of the harvest for future sowing.

III. The Collapse of Commercialization: Monsanto's Renunciation and the UN Moratorium.
In 1999, Monsanto, which was then planning to acquire Delta & Pine Land, made a public announcement that it would not commercialize the Terminator Technology. Monsanto's CEO Bob Shapiro explained in an open letter that the decision was based on concerns raised by experts and farming communities. The company committed not to bring to market seeds that render plants sterile.

Following Monsanto, other major agricultural market players, including DuPont and Novartis, made similar statements. Thus, no large agricultural corporation has ever produced or sold terminator seeds on a commercial scale.

Parallel to the companies' renunciation, an international discussion unfolded under the auspices of the United Nations. In 2000, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted a decision effectively imposing a moratorium on field testing and commercial use of GURT. The nearly 200 member countries of the Convention cannot approve the use of this technology until convincing scientific data on its safety is obtained and comprehensive assessments of its socioeconomic consequences are conducted.

It is worth noting that the patent on the technology expired in 2015, and since then, anyone could use this idea without infringing patent rights. However, the international moratorium remains in effect, creating additional legal barriers to commercialization.

IV. Distinguishing Hybrids from Sterile Seeds: Why Confusion Arises.
Confusion between F1 hybrids and hypothetical "terminator seeds" arises for several reasons.

First, both types of seeds create for the farmer an economic necessity to purchase new seeds annually. In the case of hybrids, this is due to the segregation of traits in the second generation; in the case of GURT, it is due to literal seed sterility. For the end user, the result is similar: one cannot save seeds from the harvest for the following year if they wish to achieve the same quality results.

Second, large agricultural corporations indeed dominate the hybrid seed market. Experts note that a significant portion of the global seed market is controlled by just a handful of companies. They actively promote F1 hybrids, which ensure stable annual demand.

Third, opponents of modern agricultural biotechnology intentionally or mistakenly conflate these concepts, creating the impression that corporations are already selling "sterile" seeds.

V. Current Practice: What Agricultural Corporations Offer Today.
Today, three main categories of seed products dominate the market:

F1 Hybrids — widely available and form the backbone of seed production for many crops, especially corn, sunflower, and vegetables. Their high cost is explained by the labor-intensive production process and the need to purchase new seed batches annually.

Varietal Seeds — allow seed saving for subsequent use but often lag behind hybrids in yield, disease resistance, and product uniformity.

Genetically Modified Varieties (GMOs) — permitted for cultivation in several countries, including the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Argentina. They do not contain the "Terminator gene" but are often protected by patents, and using harvested seeds for replanting is prohibited by licensing agreements.

VI. Significance for Ukraine: What Ukrainian Farmers Need to Know.
Understanding the nature of "one-year seeds" holds particular relevance for Ukraine's agricultural sector for several reasons.

Economic Factor. Ukraine is one of the world's largest producers and exporters of grains and oilseeds. Annually, Ukrainian farmers spend billions of hryvnias purchasing seeds for corn, sunflower, wheat, and other crops. The overwhelming majority of these seeds are F1 hybrids. Understanding that these seeds are not literally "sterile" but simply require renewal to maintain yield levels allows farmers to approach sowing campaigns and budgeting more consciously.

Choice Between Hybrids and Varieties. Many Ukrainian farmers, especially those representing small and medium-sized operations, face a dilemma: purchase expensive hybrid seeds that guarantee high yields, or use varietal seeds that allow seed saving but produce lower output. Recognizing that hybrids are not a "corporate trap" but rather a tool for improving production efficiency enables informed decisions based on economic calculation rather than fear.

Legal Aspects. Ukraine's legislation in the area of seed production and plant variety rights protection requires farmers to comply with licensing agreements when using hybrids and GMO crops. Violating these norms can lead to lawsuits and financial losses. Understanding the actual situation helps avoid risks associated with unauthorized use of protected varieties.

Agricultural Sector Resilience. For Ukraine, which strives for integration into the European market, compliance with international norms and standards in seed production is a crucial factor in competitiveness. Understanding the differences between hybrids, varieties, and hypothetical "terminator seeds" enables Ukrainian farmers to engage more confidently in international trade and avoid sanctions from importers.

Information Hygiene. Ukraine's information space, like many others, is not immune to the spread of myths about "sterile seeds" and "corporate conspiracy." Distinguishing fact from fiction allows farmers and agronomists to make decisions based on scientific data rather than emotional narratives.

VII. Facts and Myths: What Consumers Need to Know.
Summarizing, key facts can be highlighted:

F1 hybrids — actually exist, constitute a significant market share, require annual purchase of new seeds, but their seeds are not sterile, only producing segregated offspring.

Terminator Technology (GURT) — was developed in the late 1990s, patented, but never commercialized. No farmer anywhere has ever planted such seeds.

Major corporations, including Monsanto, voluntarily renounced bringing this technology to market in 1999.

The international community, through the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, imposed a moratorium on GURT use, which remains in effect to this day.

The myth of "terminator seeds" is actively used in discussions about food security but does not correspond to reality.

Conclusion.
The story of "one-year seeds" demonstrates a complex intertwining of actual market practices, technological developments, and public fears. On one hand, large agricultural corporations have indeed created and actively promote F1 hybrid seeds that require annual purchase — this is an objective reality of modern agriculture. On the other hand, the myth of "terminator seeds" — genetically modified sterile seeds that corporations supposedly impose on farmers — created in the late 1990s, lacks factual basis. Such technology was developed but never reached the market. Voluntary corporate renunciation and the UN moratorium have blocked its commercialization for decades.

For Ukrainian farmers, understanding this distinction has practical significance. It enables more balanced economic decisions, avoidance of legal risks associated with violating licensing agreements, and resistance to misinformation. As Ukraine's agricultural sector continues to develop and integrate into global markets, critical thinking and reliance on scientific facts become no less important than soil quality and weather conditions. Understanding what actually exists in the seed market and what remains in the realm of experimental development helps Ukrainian farmers build sustainable businesses grounded in real, not mythical, threats.

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