HABERLER

The strategy of Semillas Fitó — whose mission is to assist the agro-food industry by providing genetic solutions — is driven by research. In order for the company to invest in research, it requires an incentive in terms of return on investment

What is called for is an industrial property protection mechanism that fits the nature of our business. The UPOV convention defends the independence of one innovation with regard to another and the exception of vegetable breeders. The nature of the seed business is hence perfectly taken into account while industrial property rights are safeguarded.

The emergence of biological material patents threatens to disrupt UPOV principles. Fitó is thus looking for a way to strike a balance between respecting those principles and the patent-protected industrial property principles. ILP proposes an agreed patent license framework between companies which at the same time respects the UPOV principles upheld by Fitó.

More information: http://www.ilp-vegetable.org/