The Australian government has tightened its rules on patenting seeds after
being accused of biopiracy by farmers from developing countries. Rural
development groups criticised the Plant Breeders’ Rights Office in Canberra for
granting patents on more than a hundred varieties of seed from Asia, Africa and
Latin America
(This Week, 14 February, p 14).
Now agricultural researchers
applying for patents in Australia will have to disclose the origin of their
seeds and prove that they have bred different varieties.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Life
Largest-ever octopus was great white shark of invertebrate predators
News
Technology
Do you need to worry about Mythos, Anthropic's computer-hacking AI?
News
ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû1000¼¯ºÏ
Catching a cold can delay cancer from spreading to the lungs
News
ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû1000¼¯ºÏ
Huge study reveals how Epstein-Barr virus may cause multiple sclerosis
News
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
Largest-ever octopus was great white shark of invertebrate predators
2
Why the right kind of stress is crucial for your health and happiness
3
Why your opinion of used electric vehicles is probably wrong
4
Exercise advice for long covid may be doing more harm than good
5
Catching a cold can delay cancer from spreading to the lungs
6
We might finally know how to use quantum computers to boost AI
7
Huge study reveals how Epstein-Barr virus may cause multiple sclerosis
8
Game theory explains why the US's goals in Iran keep changing
9
Do you need to worry about Mythos, Anthropic's computer-hacking AI?
10
A whole new way to prevent death from sepsis shows promise
