Meta-analysis of intellectual property and commercialization practices in seed and planting material systems

Seed constitutes a fundamental component of agricultural growth and plays a crucial role in ensuring the prosperity of the farming sector. To maintain the supply of such seed in the market, and to safeguard its IP protection is the key responsibility of crop-based research and policy stakeholders. The results of this study revealed that China (41.95%) is the leading country in registering its plant varieties followed by the European Union, Japan, Netherlands, Russian Federation, and Asia is the leading continent (51.48%) at UPOV. India’s PPV&FR Authority has received plant varieties of 160 crop type for registration, out of these rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the leading crop with 36.11% of the overall submission of the varieties and 45.20% of the total certificate issued; followed by maize (Zea mays L.), tetraploid cotton, pearl millet, wheat (Triticum aestirum L.) and others. Technology commercialization efforts by Indian Council of Agricultural Research successfully transferred 462 varieties of its 85 crop species through agreements with 959 public and private organizations and individual entrepreneurs. The pan India reach of ICAR’s basket of improved seed and planting material innovations is sufficient enough to justify the Councils’ role in enabling farmers for better harvest, livelihood and food security. The worldwide seed business is regionally centralised in the European Union, USA, and South-east Asia. Cereal and vegetable varieties are leading the research as well as IP protection in India and abroad equally.