Publication: Public Research in Plant Breeding and Intellectual Property Rights : A Call for New Institutional Policies
Date
2006-06
ISSN
Published
2006-06
Author(s)
Louwaars, Niels
Tripp, Rob
Eaton, Derek
Abstract
This paper addresses the issue of using
intellectual property rights (IPRs) in public sector
breeding, and the potential impact on breeding strategies
and on the costs and benefits. The paper is based on a
study on the impact of IPRs in the breeding industry in
developing countries. There are three main reasons for
national agricultural research institutes (NARIs) to embrace
IPRs: recognition, technology access and transfer, and
revenue. Introducing the concept of revenue generation in
public plant breeding is likely to have an impact on the
distribution of funds within the NARI and on the breeding
strategies applied. A second possible impact is that funds
will be distributed more to crops with a high value in seed
production. The third level of impact is within breeding
programs themselves, where researchers have to choose which
ecological areas or client groups to target. The paper
concludes with suggestions: Policymakers and research
managers need to be aware of potential difficulties of
matching revenue generation through IPRs and the public
tasks of the NARIs. Explicit national and institutional
policies are needed to guide choices regarding the
management of IPRs in breeding. Research institutes need to
prepare for managing IPRs, whether they intend to protect
their own inventions or not. Human and financial resources
need to be made available, and the institutional culture
needs to be adapted to the new developments.
Citation
“Louwaars, Niels; Tripp, Rob; Eaton, Derek. 2006. Public Research in Plant Breeding and Intellectual Property Rights : A Call for New Institutional Policies. Agricultural and Rural Development Notes; No. 13. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/7cfb263b-7fa0-5139-ab93-975d75a5a21f License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”