A report commissioned by the World Bank, entitled "Impacts of strengthened intellectual property rights regimes on the plant breeding industry in developing countries: A synthesis of five case studies" is now available on the web. Prepared by N.P. Louwaars and co-authors, this 176-page report attempts to survey and analyse the design, management and impacts of various IPR instruments applied to plant breeding in China, Colombia, India, Kenya and Uganda. The study focuses on patents, plant breeders rights systems and trademarks and on three types of crops (export crops, crops with good commercial seed potential and crops that attract little commercial seed interest). IPRs on biotechnology processes and products are also considered in the report. See http://www.cgn.wageningen-ur.nl/pgr/images/IPR%20in%20breeding%20industry.pdf or contact [email protected] for more information.

04/05/2005