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By
Mary
Bellis
The recent issue of Dr. Seed's human
cloning project has been a heated debate, but not the only one surrounding
biotechnology and biotechnology patents. The following is a review of material
that tackles the controversial issues surrounding biotechnology patents.
Out
of Control Patents
As listed by RAFI
(Now the ETC group), an international non-governmental organization headquartered
in Ottawa, Canada, dedicated to the conservation and sustainable improvement
of agricultural biodiversity, and to the socially responsible development
of technologies useful to rural societies. RAFI is concerned about the
loss of genetic diversity - especially in agriculture and the impact of
intellectual property rights on agriculture and world food security.
RAFI has several fascinating and
serious patent controversies documented on their website, the most recent
(as of this writing) of which is subtitled how to "invent" a chickpea without
really trying, a controversy involving the Australian seed industry's attempt
to gain a monopoly on Asian chickpeas. Another interesting story is Bolivian
Quinoa Claimed in US Patent, a report of how agronomists Duane Johnson
and Sarah Ward of Colorado State University received US patent# 5,304,718.
The patent gives Johnson and Ward exclusive monopoly control of male sterile
plants of the traditional Bolivian "Apelawa" Quinoa variety and its use
in creating other hybrid Quinoa varieties. Quinoa if you do not already
know is a hardy, nutrient rich and tasty (I've tried it) South American
grain that has been grown and developed by indigenous peoples for centuries.
Biotechnology Trivia
On March 31, 1981, Ananda Chakrabarty
patented a new single cell life form.
Continue
with >>> Plant
Patents - Biotechnology Biopiracy
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