| Description: One of the main features of modern agricultural biotechnology (agri-biotech) is its increasing proprietary nature. Unlike the agricultural sciences of the past, which came out of publicly funded labs, new biotechnologies are protected by patents and other intellectual property rights (IPRs). Will these IPRs, which are predominantly owned by the private sector, lead to the monopolization of seeds, research tools, and even knowledge? Will they promote research and development by providing incentive for investment and encourage access to inventions produced elsewhere? |
