Agricultural Biodiversity@ Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture@

» Action Aid Food Rights Campaign: TRIPs review    Resources related to Action Aid's campaign on genetic resources with links to papers on IPRs, TRIPs, GM crops, agricultural trade and corporate control.    http://www.actionaid.org.uk/100225/trips.html

» Alternative Mechanisms to Enhance Corporate Monopoly and BioSerfdom in the 21st Century    ETC Group Communiqué on the uncertainties surrounding intellectual property rights, which, being increasingly unacceptable to industry, is why new tools for monopoly control of biological and other resources are being developed.    http://www.etcgroup.org/upload/publication/230/01/newenclosuresfinal.pdf

» Blogging Biodiversity    A useful personal weblog on international negotiations on biodiversity issues.    http://kathryn.garforthmitchell.net/

» Commission on Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR)    UK Government IPR Commission's website containing background, papers, conference reports and UK government response. Commission's Report: "Integrating IPRs and Development Policy" available in many languages.    http://www.iprcommission.org/

» Comparing sui generis rights systems    Theme issue of Biotechnology and Development Monitor journal on Plant Variety Rights and sui generis systems. Journal covers all aspects of IPRs, seed systems and biotechnology. Links through home page of journal.    http://www.biotech-monitor.nl/index36.htm

» Intellectual Property and Community Rights in African Agriculture: Implications for Small Farmers    Authoritative introduction to these issues by Genetic Resources Action International (GRAIN) concerning African countries that are being forced to choose between two conflicting paths for agricultural research and development: one rooted in the knowledge    http://www.grain.org/briefings/?id=3

» International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture    UKabc portal on the IT PGRFA (International Seed Treaty) that governs the access, use, conservation and development of the genetic resources of food security crop and forage species. Treaty outlaws IPRs on selected PGRFA. Links to all official FAO, media    http://www.ukabc.org/iu2.htm

» People, Plants and Patents    Full text of 1994 book on the impact of intellectual property on trade, agricultural biodiversity, and rural society by The Crucible Group, hosted by IDRC.    http://web.idrc.ca/en/ev-9317-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html

» Porto Alegre Treaty to Share the Global Commons    Full text and background of proposed treaty designed to ensure that governments and Indigenous Peoples, who are the caretakers of their part of the genetic commons, establish the appropriate statutory mechanisms needed to ensure both sovereignty and open    http://www.ukabc.org/genetic_commons_treaty.htm

» Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO)    QUNO publications on Trade and Intellectual Property, including aspects related to: Food, Sui Generis systems, Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, Traditional Knowledge    http://www.quno.org/economicissues/intellectual-property/default.htm

» Seeding Solutions    Full text and publication details of Volume 1 (ownership, conservation and exchange of genetic resources) and Volume 2 (legal mechanisms) which update People, Plants and Patents. Published by The Crucible Group/IDRC in 2000.    http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-9424-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html

» Small-scale Producers' Intellectual Rights to Agricultural Biodiversity    Introduction to the issues in a Kenyan context, with an emphasis on farmers, pastoralists and fisherfolk, and the need for protocols on intellectual property. Includes Via Campesina's statement on Farmers' Rights.    http://www.ukabc.org/ipr2.htm

» Syngenta Foundation For Sustainable Agriculture    Explanatory information and links on Intellectual Property Rights in the context of the need to conserve and use of plant genetic diversity for improving productivity in agriculture and sustaining human existence and well being. The foundation is funded b    http://www.syngentafoundation.com/syngenta_foundation_plant_genetic_resources_intellectual_pr.htm

» TRIPs, Biodiversity and Commonwealth Countries    Discussion paper prepared for the Commonwealth Secretariat on capacity building priorities for the Review of TRIPs Article 27.3(b). Extensive links to related papers and sites.    http://www.ukabc.org/TRIPs/cs_exsum.htm

» TRIPs, Sui Generis and Plant Variety Protection    Third World Network's pages on IP issues. Extensive and historical coverage of the issues from an authoritative developing country perspective.    http://www.twnside.org.sg/access_5.htm

» The True Cost of Gene Patents: The Economic and Social Consequences of Patenting Genes and Living Organisms    This Greenpeace report is one in a series that call for a substantial restriction of, or a complete end to, the patenting of genes and living organisms(2004)    http://weblog.greenpeace.org/ge/archives/1Study_True_Costs_Gene_Patents.pdf

» Trade, Intellectual Property, Food and Biodiversity    Discussion paper prepared for the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) on key issues and options for the review of Article 27.3(b) of the WTO/TRIPs Agreement. Includes discussion of impacts on food security and agricultural biodiversity.    http://www.quno.org/geneva/pdf/economic/Discussion/Trade-IP-Food-Biodiversity-English.pdf

» Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Prior Art Database (TEK*PAD)    An online, searchable archive of public domain documented uses of traditional ecological knowledge concerning indigenous knowledge and plant species, necessary to establish prior art. Includes taxonomic data, ethnobotanical uses, scientific/medical papers    http://shr.aaas.org/tek/tekpad.htm

» UPOV - International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants    Website of the institution that governs this 65 nation Convention on Plant Variety Protection (PVP) of crops and flowers. Details of the Convention, membership, conduct, implementation.    http://www.upov.int

» WIPO: Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge, and Folklore    World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) pages on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources with links to Traditional Knowledge, and Folklore. Includes coverage of the intergovernmental committee covering all three issues.    http://www.wipo.int/tk/en/

» World Patent System    Review by GRAIN of moves by the World Intellectual Property Organisation to implement a single global system for approval and administration of patents.    http://www.grain.org/publications/wipo-patent-2002-en.cfm

» WorldTrade Organisation - TRIPs / Patents pages    WTO's pages on the Agreement on Trade-Related aspects of Intellectual Property rights (TRIPs), highlighting the patents clauses which include genetic resources patents. Links to all other aspects of trade and intellectual property.    http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/intel2_e.htm#patents