La patente podría ser utilizada para obstaculizar el desarrollo de mejoras de la soja en relación con el cambio climático en marcha.
02 de diciembre 2014 / Los miembros de la coalición de No Patents on Seeds! han presentado una oposición contra una patente europea en manos de la compañía estadounidense Monsanto. Ellos acusan a Monsanto de biopiratería. La patente EP2134870 fue concedida en febrero de 2014 por la Oficina Europea de Patentes (OEP) y cubre la selección de plantas de soja adaptadas a distintas zonas climáticas para el desarrollo de mejoras. Por la patente, Monsanto examinó más de 250 plantas de especies «exóticas» estrechamente relacionadas con la soja. Ellos fueron seleccionando específicamente su diversidad genética en relación con la adaptación al clima y el período de tiempo necesario para la madurez y la cosecha. Las plantas fueron tomadas de especies silvestres y cultivadas en Asia y Australia. En la patente de Monsanto reivindica el uso de cientos de secuencias de ADN procedentes de la diversidad genética natural. Además, la patente también se aplica a otras regiones, como los EE.UU., Canadá, China y Sudáfrica. Mientras que la OEP ha sido el primero en otorgar la patente, se fue emitida en los EE.UU., en septiembre de 2014.
The opposition is based on Article 53b of the European Patent Convention (EPC) which prohibits patents on processes for plant breeding. Currently, the European Patent Office interprets the prohibition of Article 53 (b) in such a way that no patents can be granted on crossing and subsequent selection. However, if selection is performed before crossing, this is considered to be patentable.
“This patent is a striking example of the legal absurdity intentionally created by the EPO to serve the interests of companies such as Monsanto. The only thing needed to avoid the legal prohibitions is some skillful wording of the claims”, says Francois Meienberg from Berne Declaration, which is part of the Coalition of No Patents on Seeds!. “There is an easy explanation as to why such patents are granted contrary to existing patent law: The EPO is earning money by issuing patents. In 2013, the EPO earned 1.5 Billion € from granting patents and fees.”
The organisations behind the coalition of No Patents on Seeds! do not expect the EPO to solve the problem in its decision-making process. A recently published legal analysis by the coalition concluded that the pending precedent cases concerning patents on tomatoes and broccoli will not stop the EPO from granting any more patents such as the one described above on the selection of soybeans. In fact, another similar European patent was granted to Monsanto covering the selection of soybeans for rust disease resistance (EP 2271201) in July 2014.
Political action is needed to stop the EPO from granting any more of these patents. The organisations behind the coalition of No Patents on Seeds! are urging the contracting States of the EPO to take political control. They should make sure that the current interpretation of patent law is changed. In this context No Patents on Seeds! are drawing attention to a resolution adopted by the European Parliament in May 2012, which “calls on the EPO to exclude from patenting products derived from conventional breeding and all conventional breeding methods.” However, the EPO has largely ignored this resolution. A political decision should be taken by the Administrative Council, which is made up of representatives of the European governments, to make sure the EPO implements the resolution. The organisations involved in this campaign have already gained substantial political support: The German government has announced a European initiative and, in January 2014, the French Senate asked the government of France to become actively involved.
“The patents granted by the EPO are putting Monsanto into a position to hamper or even block access to the most basic prerequisite in plant breeding – the usage of natural genetic diversity. These patents are endangering agro-biodiversity and adaptability of food production systems needed to meet the challenges of climate change. They are putting our global and regional food security at risk”, Francois Meienberg is warning.
The organisations behind the coalition of No Patents on Seeds! are concerned that patents on plant and animal breeding will foster further market concentration, making farmers and other stakeholders of the food supply chain even more dependent on just a few big international companies and ultimately reduce consumer choice. The coalition of No Patents on Seeds! is organised by Bionext (Netherlands), The Berne Declaration (Switzerland), GeneWatch (UK), Greenpeace, Misereor (Germany), Development Fund (Norway), No Patents on Life (Germany), Red de Semillas (Spain), Rete Semi Rurali (Italy), Reseau Semences Paysannes (France) and Swissaid (Switzerland). They are calling for a revision of European Patent Law to exclude breeding material, plants and animals and food derived thereof from patentability. The coalition is supported by several hundred other organisations.
Contacts: Francois Meienberg, Berne Declaration, phone +41 44 277 70 04 food@evb.ch Christoph Then, phone + 49 151 54638040, info@no-patents-on-seeds.org
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