Public Concern Over Holy Basil Plant Variety Registration
A major private company’s registration of four new holy basil varieties has sparked public debate regarding potential restrictions on traditional farming.
A recent collaboration between a major private firm and Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, has led to the development and registration of four new holy basil varieties: Kaew Juree 01, 02, 03, and 04. The company has secured plant variety protection for these specific strains from the Department of Agriculture for a 12-year period.
This move has triggered widespread criticism and concern among Thai farmers, restaurant operators, and the general public. Many fear that this registration might restrict the ability of ordinary citizens to grow or sell traditional holy basil, a staple ingredient in Thai cuisine.
In response to the backlash, the company issued a clarification, stating that the protection applies exclusively to the four newly developed varieties. They emphasized that these strains were created specifically for their own ready-to-eat food production supply chain and contracted farming network. The company explicitly stated that they do not intend to sell these seeds to the general public and that their registration does not encompass the traditional holy basil varieties commonly grown and consumed by the public.
For residents and travelers, this means that the common holy basil used in daily cooking remains unaffected by these legal protections. However, it remains to be seen how the Department of Agriculture will monitor the distinction between these protected varieties and traditional crops in the marketplace.
