This article examines the phenomenon of so-called "one-year seeds" — seeds that produce a crop only in the first generation and cannot be used for subsequent sowing. Based on an analysis of the history of Genetic Use Restriction Technology (GURT), known as "Terminator Technology," as well as F1 hybrid seeds currently available on the market, the article reconstructs the actual picture of which seeds truly require annual purchase and why. Particular attention is devoted to distinguishing myths from facts: no agricultural corporation in the world has commercialized genetically modified sterile seeds, yet F1 hybrid seeds, widely available on the market, are biologically unsuitable for seed saving. For Ukraine's agricultural sector, where farmers annually face a choice between the productivity of hybrids and the cost savings of traditional varieties, understanding these mechanisms holds special practical significance.