Intellectual Property Rights in Plant Biotechnology: A Contribution to Crop Biosecurity

This contribution reviews the different forms and scope of intellectual property rights relevant to crop biosecurity; the genetic assets and commitments made by developing countries under the TRIPS agreement and the alternatives open to them. The potential positive and negative consequence of introducing and strengthening IPRs for the transfer of technology and innovation in developing countries with special reference to crop biosecurity is highlighted. Furthermore, relevant viewpoints to the debate on access and benefit-sharing of the global plant genetic resources, genetic erosion and biopiracy that are of significance for crop biosecurity are provided. Consequently, governments should consider formulating internationally compatible laws, standards and practices regarding plant materials and data such that crop protection and biosecurity as well as the ethical handling of biological materials and data from plants can be guaranteed.