Sammendrag
With the objective to promote increased investments in biotechnology for food production, the patent legislations in several countries were amended in the 1980 in order to encourage increased private sector's involvement. In the same period, the role of the public sector in agricultural research and extension has stagnated. First, we analyze the current IPR landscape for biotechnology. Second, we discuss the role of IPRs in the ongoing consolidation in the biotechnology industry. Finally, we discuss implications of IPRs and the related consolidation and power structure for farmers' rights and food security. We find that there are reasons for concerns for the control exercised by the companies, both due to the individual patents, the total amount of patents (patent thickets) and the power exercised through increased corporate control.
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