Time to Leverage Intellectual Property to Drive Innovation and Competitiveness for Viksit Bharat: Seed Industry

India's agricultural sector is undergoing a remarkable transformation, embracing innovation and technology at an accelerated pace. To sustain this momentum, as India strives to achieve the "viksit" tag by 2047, a robust Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) environment is crucial for achieving the aspirations of Amrit Kaal.

The experts highlighted the opportunities and challenges in effectively leveraging intellectual property to drive innovation and competitiveness in the seed and biotechnology sectors in India. These challenges include strengthening mechanisms for IP protection and enforcement particularly in seed and biotech sectors, facilitating technology transfer and licensing agreements, navigating complex regulatory frameworks, and building capacity and awareness among stakeholders.

Dr Raj S Paroda, Founder Chairman, Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS) said, “Enabling environment for IPR protection is critical for accelerating new innovations and technologies needed for faster growth of agriculture. When innovators are confident of protection of their rights, they get incentivized to do better and come forward to invest and innovate. For example, investments in research and development of new high-yielding varieties and hybrids, that are resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses. Fortunately, through PPVFRA, we in India have a unique IPR framework which not only protect the rights of plant breeders but also of our farmers.”

Dr Paroda and other experts were speaking at a national conference titled  ‘Innovate, Protect, Prosper: Role of Intellectual Property Protection in taking India's Seed Sector to the Next Level,’ organised by the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII). The scientific and industry experts highlighted the need for a robust IPR environment and effective enforcement that shall boost growth of the seed industry.

Drawing from international lessons, nations have acknowledged the necessity of maintaining a balanced stance on intellectual property rights. Strong IP protection is vital for stimulating innovation and investment Collaborative research endeavors, partnerships between the public and private sectors, and open innovation frameworks have demonstrated their effectiveness in expediting innovation and tackling intricate challenges.

Highlighting the international best practices in IPR for the seed and agricultural biotechnology, and emphasising the importance of IP learning for the Indian seed industry, Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Chairperson, Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPVFRA), MInistry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India said, “India takes a progressive approach towards PVP learning from global best practices in IPR for the seed and agricultural biotechnology while taking cognizance of the rights of the farmers as custodians of traditional varieties as well as the need for benefit sharing. Successful IPR regimes strike a balance between promoting innovation and ensuring access to technologies.”

“Conferences like this are necessary to enhance awareness about the importance of IP rights among the seed and biotechnology industries, and to promote dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders on IP protection strategies, regulatory challenges, and the future of technology transfer in agriculture for benefit of all the stakeholders including the farmers.” Dr Mohapatra added.

Speaking on the need for a balanced IPR environment for the seed industry, Ajai Rana, Chairman, FSII and Managing Director & CEO, Savannah Seeds said, “There is a need for a multi-faceted and collaborative approach towards building an effective policy and regulatory framework around IPR particularly in the seed industry. This involves legal reforms, capacity building, stakeholder engagement, and international cooperation to promote innovation to find solutions to our most pressing problems.”

Rana also advocated for collaboration between the public and private sectors to enhance research and development efforts, while reiterating the need for better IPR protection and enforcement on the ground.

By leveraging the global best practices and insights, India has the opportunity to craft a nuanced strategy on intellectual property, one that nurtures innovation, encourages technology transfer, and overcoming the hurdles confronting its seed and biotechnology sectors.

As the World Intellectual Property Day is celebrated annually on April 26th, it is paramount to raise awareness about the role of intellectual property (IP) rights in fostering innovation and creativity. In India, where the seed and biotechnology industries are crucial for agricultural development and technological advancement, recognising the significance of IP is paramount. FSII strives to contribute to the growth and sustainability of India's agricultural innovation ecosystem by raising awareness in IPR, promoting collaboration, showcasing innovations, and empowering stakeholders.