Urgent Need To Shift Away From Industrial Agriculture, Says UN Agency
A recent report by a United Nations agency calls for an urgent shift of paradigm in agricultural development.
Intellectual Property Watch
Original news and analysis on international IP policy
Category Environment
Meeting Highlights Use Of Open Data In Science, Health And Sustainable Development
At the end of a two-day conference in Switzerland, open knowledge experts emphasised the role of open data in strengthening science findings’ credibility, fostering medical research and enhancing sustainable development.
Reactions To Treaty On Plant Genetic Resources For Food And Agriculture
The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) has been the subject of various comments this week.
ECOSOC Tackles HIV/AIDS, NCDs, Science/Tech For Development
The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) yesterday took action on reports pertaining to HIV/AIDS, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and science and technology for development.
QUNO: Don’t Forget Small Farmers In WIPO GR Negotiations
Small-scale farmers and their role in food security are a “missing element” in the draft articles being reviewed at this week’s negotiations at WIPO, according to a briefing paper issued by the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO).
US Subcommittee Examines Toxic Substances Control Act, IP Protection
A subcommittee of the United States House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee today heard arguments for and against greater chemical regulation and trade secret protection in its review of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The hearing also examined the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s role in regulation.
Questions Arise Over EU Draft Regulation To Implement Nagoya Protocol
The European Commission has prepared a draft regulation to implement an international protocol to prevent biopiracy, leading two non-governmental organisations to publish an opinion piece voicing concerns about it. The European Parliament is scheduled to review the draft on 4 July. A key concern is whether it would cover non-European genetic resources already in European collections.
Public Interest Groups Ask US Court To Invalidate Stem Cell Patent
A human embryonic stem cell patent held by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) should be invalidated, according to a legal filing made on 2 July by two public interest groups.
Global Innovation Index: Most Innovative Keep Top Spots
Innovation is a main focus of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) substantive session taking place in Geneva this week. Today, at the ECOSOC opening session, the 2013 Global Innovation Index (GII) was launched, which ranked Switzerland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States as the top five most innovative countries in the world.
UN Economic And Social Council To Address IP’s Role In Innovation, Tech
The annual four-week session of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), a key coordinating body responsible for 70 per cent of spending across the UN system, opens next week with high-level political figures addressing intellectual property rights and innovation.