Plant Protection..! Are the Laws Helpful..??
The World Patent Information published an interesting article regarding various aspects of the legal policies on plant protection. The article describes how such policies as the US plant Patent Act of 1930, the UPOV Convention, TRIPS agreement and the European Regulation on the Protection of Plant Varieties are debated over the recent years and whether or not they protect such innovation are reviewed. As the issue of genetically modified plants is very much in focus over the recent years, the article makes close reviews over the court cases and focuses on several issues including the patenting of gene sequences and access to genetic resources and researches done over them as it further discusses the issue being debated.
Furthermore, the article also reviews the plant protection offices around the world and evaluates them as the weaknesses of the current system are also outlined. It discusses how such weaknesses may affect the breeders in the research field to lose interest in some of the forms of the protection, emphasizing the difficulty in finding an acceptable balance. The article concludes, however, that if the laws are fully implemented, then it should help biotechnology inventors and plant breeders in providing effective protection (World Patent Information).
For detailed information, refer to the World Patent Information Vol: 28 Issue: 1, Title: Protection of plant-related innovations: Evolution and current discussion Author: Le Buanec, Bernard Published on March, 2006.
Breeders’ Rights in Europe
Also form the World Patent Information, one of the articles discusses another policy related issues particularly focused in Europe. It focuses on the topic over the rights of the breeders and their wish to protect the free use of varieties they have developed. There are two options for the plant variety protection in Europe, of which one can be done at the national level while the other can be done through community level. The article focuses on that of the community level, regarded as the Community plant variety protection system first created in 1994 and currently seated in France. Under the system, such right issues held by the breeders in Europe can be protected through various sequences of procedures, including the process in attaining authority license. It also provides useful statistics for easier overview of the system.
For further information, refer to the World Patent Information Vol: 27 Issue: 4, Title: Plant Variety Protection in the European CommunityAuthor: Kiewiet, BartPublished December, 2005.
Deforestation and Greenhouse Effect
The Time published on April 3rd 2006 presents how deforestation is related to the cause of greenhouse effect as it elaborates on the potential damage it can bring about for the future. Although deforestation is necessary for certain plants to continue its life cycle and to maintain the community, the article raises the issue over the harm burning of forest is likely to cause. It explains how such acts increase the amount of Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere, while the difficulty in balancing it with the Carbon Dioxide intake by the plants to produce Oxygen is highlighted. It is ideal if the high percentage of Carbon Dioxide produced can be converted in to an appropriate amount of Oxygen by the plants in the forest; however, the article debates that the issue of deforestation is likely to cause less efficiency for doing so, and hence lead to potential future damages adding to the greenhouse effect.
For further information, refer to http:web.lexis-nexis.com. “Vicious Cycles.” Published on April 3rd 2006 by Time.
Corn oil for more!
Vast agricultural companies are on their ways in seeking various plants such as corn to be used as biofuels for future, the “Fortune” states in the February 6th 2006 edition. The production of vehicle fuels through such plants could bring economic benefits as it will allow the process to occur with lower price than it currently is. The production of the plants such as corns is suggested to be grown in states like Ohio, where it would be shipped to California for further assessment. It would cost less to transport corns capable of the production of ethanol than to transport ethanol itself with much more care required. There are also other plants such as soy beans, straw and wood chips are involved in the production of ethanol and diesel in countries like Canada and Germany. The article informs that though it may appear risky, due to many benefits that this could bring to the production of ethanol and fuel at lower price, the process to invest in them appear highly attractive for many agricultural companies.
For further information, refer to http://web.lexis-nexis.com.
"Wanna Make a Bet on Biofuels?;
Warning: Breakthrough technologies can take a very long time to pay off."
Published on February 6th 2006 by the "Fortune."
Genetically modified plants for vaccines?!
The London News Paper, "The Independent", published on July 13th 2004 announced that genetically modified plant may be used for vaccines against rabies and Aids. Although opposed by the environmentalists concerned with using genetically modified plants, the article stated that the “clinical trials of the first vaccine derived from GM plants are planned to take place in 2009” (The Independent). The trial for this experiment would most likely take place in Africa, and if success occurs it would lead to a large cost benefit for the production of vaccines. A plant technologist, Philip Dale, at the John Innes Centre in Norwich who is the project's biosafety coordinator, along with the South Africa's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research are ready to start the new exploration for the better access of vaccines against disease!
For further information, refer to http://web.lexis-nexis.com.
"GM PLANTS WILL BE USED TO CREATE NEW AIDS VACCINE."
publshed on July 13th 2004 by The Independent (London).
