The World Meteorological Organization’s State of the Climate in Asia 2024 report warns that the region is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average, driving more extreme weather and posing serious threats to lives, ecosystems, and economies. In 2024, Asia experienced its warmest or second warmest year on …
The World Trade Organization (WTO) was set up in 1995 and has been the custodian of all matters related to the implementation of the TRIPS Agreement endorsed by the 152 member countries. WTO is therefore the most important body which monitors and influences working of global intellectual property rights protection …
Patent bill may be pushed through Parliament without debate THE Ministry of Science and Technology has introduced a bill in the Parliament that may make life-saving drugs unaffordable for poor people. The bill gives scientists and researchers in government-funded universities the right to patent innovations and research outcomes. This includes …
The Government has put in place a new patent regime in January 2005 keeping in line with the WTO commitments. Under the regime a 20 year product patent regime was introduced for food, drugs and chemicals. At the same time, adequate safeguards were introduced to protect the interests of domestic …
Intellectual property is already a big component of global trade and rising. Consequently, the number of crossborder disputes and multiple infringement suits related to patents is also increasing. Their resolution is complicated because the scope and coverage of patent protection differs from country to country.
Herbal medicines in most developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America have played a central role in health-care since time immemorial. All the stakeholders involved in medicinal plants sector should now consider the issue of sustainability to get the benefits.
With their kitchen gardens in local communities, women are responsible for the food crops that secure the food supply. Cash crops and monetary income are, on the other hand, defi ned as masculine. The construction of women
The horticulture sector encompasses a wide range of crops, e.g., fruit crops, vegetable crops, potato and tuber crops, ornamental crops, medicinal and aromatic crops, spices and plantation crops. India, with its wide variability of climate and soil, is highly favourably placed for growing a large number of horticultural crops. It …
This report is based on a series of 15 international case studies conducted between September and November 2008 under a joint initiative of FAO and the PISCES Energy Research Programme Consortium funded by DFID. The case studies focussed on developing an improved understanding of the linkages between Livelihoods and small-scale …
Among developing countries, one can identify both proponents and opponents of extending the use of geographical indications (GIs) beyond wines and spirits. Such an extension is currently being discussed under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) of the World Trade Organization. While labeling is mostly based …
The horticulture sector encompasses a wide range of crops e.g., fruit crops, vegetable crops, potato and tuber crops, ornamental crops, medicinal and aromatic crops, spices and plantation crops. India, with its wide variability of climate and soil, is highly favourable for growing a large number of horticultural crops. It is …
The United States and the European Union have in recent years initiated negotiations on a large number of bilateral and regional trade agreements. These agreements tend to push trade liberalisation much further than is possible under the multilateral trade regime. These rtas also include rules which are likely to reduce …
At the end of its first three years, the Indo-United States Knowledge Initiative on Agriculture is recommending changes in regulation to suit US commercial interests. This article, based on a reading of the minutes of the KIA board
Some countries in West Africa are considering the potential adoption of insect resistant cotton. Burkina Faso has already approved commercial cultivation of this technology. This paper presents the results of a socio economic impact assessment of the potential adoption of insect resistant cotton in West Africa using an augmented economic …
Despite numerous international commitments to promote transfer of climate-change related technologies to developing countries, such transfers are not occurring at a sufficient rate to aid these nations in mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change. The impact of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights …
