About
What is Royalty Area Collection (RAC)?
Originally, royalties were collected on a per-hectare basis, with no royalty on the certified seed sale.
From harvest 2024, a new system was introduced where royalties on certified seed are included in the seed price. Growers are now only invoiced per hectare for farm-saved seed (FSS), reducing paperwork and simplifying the process for everyone involved.
Find out more about RAC through our FAQs
How the RAC system works
Certified Seed
Grower
RAC Agreement
Orders seed
Royalty included in seed cost £/T
Plants seed
Declares area planted on RAC declaration
Farm Saved Seed (FSS)
Grower
RAC Agreement
Plants FSS
Declares area planted
Invoiced at a £/Ha rate for area planted with FSS
Why support plant breeding in the UK?
Plant breeding underpins the future of UK agriculture – delivering higher yields, improved quality, and greater resilience to evolving disease pressures and adaptation to climate change.
The UK’s unique conditions demand varieties bred specifically for British farms. Without continued investment, growers risk losing access to locally adapted genetics that perform reliably year after year.
BIPO supports this innovation by ensuring breeders are fairly rewarded for the value their varieties deliver on farm. Through the Royalty Area Collection (RAC) system, royalties are applied transparently with a unified, transparent rate for both certified and farm-saved seed – making certified seed more accessible to growers.
RAC puts growers in control – allowing you to assess performance on your own farm and make clear, commercial decisions based on the value a variety delivers. While ensuring everyone contributes equally to the progression of genetics, regardless of seed source.
By supporting plant breeding through RAC, growers are helping drive continued innovation – securing better genetics, stronger crops, and a more resilient future of UK farming for generations to come.