Course Title: CROP VARIETY REGISTRATION AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

Course Code: PBG-406

Credit Hours: 2(2-0)

Instructor: DR. IKRAM UL HAQ

In this course, the students will be taught to understand the mechanism of registration of crop varieties and seed certification, intellectual property rights, and concerns regarding Plant Breeders and farmer's rights.

Intended learning outcomes:

To make the students abreast about: Intellectual property rights and Registration of crop varieties and seed certification

COURSE CONTENTS

1. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR):  introduction and implementation
2. IPR; issues and challenges
3. Strategies to maximize benefits from IPR
4. Plant Variety Protection (PVP) and farmer‘s rights
5. Biological diversity and utilization of germplasm resources
6. Plant Breeder‘s Rights Act: background, requirements; advantages and disadvantages.
7. Patenting biological material. International harmonization of patent laws.  Plant variety registration and seed certification.  A critical review of WTO, trips and seed industry in Pakistan.

READINGS

1. Helfer, L.R. 2004.  Intellectual Property Rights in Plant Varieties: International legal regimes and policy options for national governments.
2. FAO Legislative Study 85, Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, Italy.
3. Erbisch, F.U. and K.M. Maredia (eds). 2003. Intellectual Property Rights in Agricultural Biotechnology. CABI Publishing Company, USA.
4. Helfer, L.R. 2002.  Intellectual Property Rights in Plant Varieties:  an overview with options for national governments. 
5. FAO Legal Papers, Online #31, Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, Italy.
6. Evenson, R.E. 1999.  Intellectual Property Rights; access to plant germplasm and crop production scenarios in 2020. Crop Sci., 39:1630-1635.
7. Singh, B.  D. 2003.  Plant Breeding:  Principles and Methods.  Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi, India
8. IPO Pakistan http://www.ipo.gov.pk/

ASSESMENT CRITERIA