{"id":26784,"date":"2019-06-17T08:00:57","date_gmt":"2019-06-17T06:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bioecoactual.com\/?p=26784"},"modified":"2019-06-14T19:09:09","modified_gmt":"2019-06-14T17:09:09","slug":"patent-applications-covering-seeds-to-meat-and-from-maize-to-milk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bioecoactual.com\/en\/2019\/06\/17\/patent-applications-covering-seeds-to-meat-and-from-maize-to-milk\/","title":{"rendered":"Patent applications covering \u2018seeds to meat\u2019 and from \u2018maize to milk\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

The patent granted by the European Patent Office (EPO) covering salmon and trout reared on specific plants (EP1965658) could now become a precedent for many other patent applications. Recent research shows several similar European patent applications<\/strong> are already pending, claiming food products, such as meat and milk, derived from animals fed with selected plants.<\/p>\n

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\"Patent<\/p>\n

The patent on salmon<\/strong> and trout was granted in October 2018 and recently brought to public attention by No Patents on Seeds!<\/a>. The patent monopoly covers the rearing and feeding of the fish, along with the fish itself. After learning of this case, No Patents on Seeds! researched similar patent applications. This research came to an alarming conclusion: there are several other European patent applications recently filed at the World Patent Institute (WIPO), all following a similar strategy. Starting with plants and feed, also the food products derived from farm animals are claimed as inventions.<\/p>\n

For example, Syngenta<\/strong> not only claims genetically engineered maize as its \u2018invention\u2019 but also the production of milk and meat from animals fed with such plants: In patent WO2018204245, \u201ca harvested cattle carcass\u201d is part of the invention; and patent WO2019075028 claims a \u201cmethod of increasing the amount of milk produced by a dairy animal\u201d. While these patents rely on transgenic maize, others such as the patent on salmon also claim usage of conventionally bred plants.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is an attempt to make ethically unacceptable profit by abusing patents. The consequences can be serious for animal welfare, farmers and consumers. If such \u2018seed to meat\u2019 patents are granted, the patent holders are in a position to control animal food production to a great extent,\u201d Christoph Then for No Patents on Seeds! \u201cIf this strategy is successful, companies will in future claim more and more such food monopolies.\u201d<\/p>\n

No Patents on Seeds! is demanding a change in the rules for interpreting patent law<\/strong> in order to close these loopholes, it is also calling for the more effective implementation of current prohibitions. However, if a change in the interpretation of current law does not provide sufficient legal certainty and clarity, the European patent law itself needs to be changed accordingly. No Patents on Seeds! is warning that if patents on plants and animals used in food production are granted, this will allow big companies such as Bayer, DowDupont and Syngenta to increasingly take control of agriculture, breeding and food production.<\/p>\n

Further information<\/strong><\/p>\n