The potential negative impacts of public patenting are enormous. Although the current political climate favors private sector activity and "no new taxes," there is a strong case to be made for public sector breeding. These political slogans do not take into account the many cases where the market does not provide incentives for the private sector to invest in breeding. Cash-starved university research programs facing increased demand for their services find private contracts increasingly attractive. The better alternative is for state and federal executives and legislatures to appropriate sufficient funds.