KEEPING SCIENCE OPEN: THE EFFECTS OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY POLICY ON THE CONDUCT OF SCIENCE. (Royal Society UK, April 2003) This report considers whether progress in science has been affected by the interpretation and use of intellectual property policies, and makes recommendations for improvement.
STATUS OF THE RIGHTS OF FARMERS AND PLANT BREEDERS IN ASIA. By Ujjwal Kumar and Suman Sahai (Gene Campaign, June 2003). This book compares the salient features of the Plant Variety Protection (PVP) legislation (enacted or proposed) of nine Asian countries — Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, China, South Korea, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand. It also contains three articles that provide a detailed account of the rights of farmers in the Indian PVP law in the context of India’s move to join the UPOV Convention. It highlights points to show that joining UPOV is not in the interest of developing countries. For further information, please write to Prabhu Ram at: gc@genecampaign.org or genecamp@vsnl.com.
BIOTECHNOLOGY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: NEEDS AND MODES OF COMPETENCE BUILDING. By the Norwegian Centre for International Environment and Development Studies (Noragric, 2003). This report examines opportunities for building scientific capacity in developing countries around the various applications for biotechnology. With particular reference to Africa the report looks at a range of applications from industrial to small scale agriculture such as food technology, animal and plant disease management, tolerance of stress, and more efficient utilization of resources.
GM CROPS: GOING AGAINST THE GRAIN. By ActionAid (2003). This paper asks: Do GM crops help eradicate poverty? Do GM crops meet the needs of poor farmers? Do they threaten basic rights? Do GM crops threaten biodiversity? Do GM crops enhance informed choice and participation for poor people?.
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PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE WEBSITE. This website, launched by IUCN, TRAFFIC, Fauna & Flora International and ResourceAfrica, seeks to provide a focal point for the variety of ongoing work around the world on the precautionary principle in natural resource management and biodiversity conservation. It currently provides background on the precautionary principle, and information on the Precautionary Principle Project.
GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS WEBSITE. Through this website, those interested in learning more about the topics of protection of geographical indications will find information about the use of names that point to a specific geographic place. It provides links to relevant rules in the US, the EU and other countries, and also to regimes of international organisations such as WIPO and WTO.