Percy Schmeiser
Percy Schmeiser | |
|---|---|
Percy Schmeiser in Stuttgart (2008); | |
| MLA for Watrous | |
| In office 1967–1971 | |
| Preceded by | Hans Broten |
| Succeeded by | Donald Cody |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 5, 1931 Bruno, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Died | October 13, 2020 (aged 89) |
| Political party | Saskatchewan Liberal Party |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Awards | Right Livelihood Award |
Percy Schmeiser (5 January 1931 – 13 October 2020) was a Canadian businessman, farmer, and politician. In 1954, he took over the operations of the family owned farm, gas station, and farm equipment dealership. He renamed the farm equipment dealership Schmeiser's Garage and added a second farm equipment dealership in Humboldt, Saskatchewan (Central Farm Sales) in 1986 and oversaw their operations until their sale in 2003.
He became an international symbol and spokesperson for independent farmers' rights and the regulation of transgenic crops during his protracted legal battle with multinational agrichemical company Monsanto. While farming, he specialized in breeding and growing canola, field peas, mustard, and wheat. He is the subject of the 2009 film David Versus Monsanto and the 2020 film Percy.