Role of the Land Grant University in Plant Breeding and Biotechnology

1
Role of the Land Grant University in Plant
Breeding and Biotechnology

• Randy Woodson
• Agricultural Research Programs
• Purdue University

2
Evolution, Progress, Change

• Emergence of public breeding programs based on
  science of genetics (1900-1930)
• Development of hybrid corn led to private-sector
  breeding (1930s)
• 1930 Plant Patent Act (asexually propagated
  plants)
• 1970 Plant Variety Protection Act gave further
  incentives for industry

3
Change

• 1980, Supreme Court Legal to patent life forms
  (biotechnology industry)
• Supreme Court Utility Patents on Plants are
  legal

4
Intellectual Property Protection in the Public
University

• Rights to protect IP granted by the Federal
  Government for funded research
• Overall goal is to serve the public good, by
  discovering and communicating new knowledge
• For discoveries to be useful, they must be made
  available. This often requires protection of IP.

5
Protection of Varieties and Germplasm

• Public release (producer ready variety)
• PVP (farmers and research exemption)
• Non-exclusive (or exclusive) license
• Utility Patent with subsequent license agreements
  (allows for contracts to protect IP)
• Overarching question What option will result
  in the greatest public benefit in the shortest
  period of time?

6
Issues

• Shift from variety development to germplasm
  (trait) development
• Need to partner with others to move forward
  (freedom to operate)
• Access to plants, genes and information to
  advance discovery
• Funding (source and amount)
• Revenue (royalty and research fee)

7
Issues

• Education (development of human capital in plant
  breeding and genetics)