The Role of Intellectual Property Rights in Agriculture and Allied Sciences

This volume, The Role of Intellectual Property Rights in Agriculture and Allied Sciences, provides a basic understanding of the different forms of intellectual property rights in agricultural science. It provides an abundance of information on the use of IP laws in agriculture and allied subjects and their proper implementation in real-life practice. The chapter authors discuss different kinds of IP laws and their current status in developed as well as developing countries throughout the world.

The protection of biological resources is crucial for food security for future generations. Biological resources are the source of several important genes. Researchers are concerned about the development of plant varieties that can increase crop production, withstand dramatic climatic changes, etc. Protecting intellectual property rights in plant varieties and rights of farmers and others are discussed in this volume. It also looks at new trends and developments in the field involving new IP strategies and the application of IP laws in agriculture and biotechnology and in the management of plant genetic resources.

In the past, it was considered that plant genetic resources evolved naturally and were a "common heritage of mankind." Recently, however, the TRIPS (Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) agreement under the WTO and Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) have granted sovereign rights on biological resources to member countries, leading to some complex challenges.

The information shared in this volume IPR in agriculture will help to bring this important subject into the limelight for scientists, researchers, conservators, students, and farmers. It will help to keep professionals, scientists, researchers, and others abreast of the IPR laws and their proper implementation in agriculture and other related subjects.

Topics include:

IPR in agriculture and its prospects

protecting plant breeders’ rights

farmers’ right and privileges

patenting of microbiological and biotechnological inventions

Chandan Roy, PhD, is an Assistant Professor-cum-Junior Scientist in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, India. He is the author of two books, two book chapters, more than 12 peer-reviewed journal research papers, and six articles, and he has presented research findings at more than 10 seminar/symposia. Presently he is the In-Charge of Intellectual Property Right Cell of Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, as well as the university’s Nodal Officer of the national-level program on PPV&FRA-2001 (Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001). He has delivered lectures on different aspects of international property rights (IPR) at state- and national-level institutes. He has also conducted a national conference on IPR in agriculture. In addition, he is engaged in an awareness generation program among the farmers of Bihar, India, regarding farmers’ rights; he has trained more than 3500 farmers regarding IPR and framers’ rights. Dr. Roy is a member of the national-level expert committee on registration of essentially derived varieties (EDVs) under the PPV&FR Act 2001, Government of India. He is also a member of Prioritization, Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) Cell of the university extension and training group. Dr. Roy is also engaged in teaching of undergraduate and postgraduate students and directs research activities in the wheat and cauliflower improvement program.