Foundation Joins Agriculture-Related Intellectual Property Organization

ARDMORE, Okla. — The Noble Foundation is participating in the Public Intellectual Property Resource for Agriculture (PIPRA), a collaboration among public and private non-profit research institutions and universities that conduct agricultural research for public benefit.

Advancements in agriculture commonly depend on access to technologies that are patented or otherwise protected by intellectual property rights. Ownership of such rights is scattered across many institutions, both for-profit and not-for-profit, which often frustrates innovation.

PIPRA's objectives are to promote the management of agriculture-related intellectual property and to achieve freedom to use these innovations for research, economic development and humanitarian purposes. This collaboration will impact and stimulate innovations in both specialty crops such as forages, tomatoes, lettuce and grapes and staple crops (rice, sorghum, potatoes). Staple crop improvements will be targeted for use in developing and near-developed countries.

"PIPRA's mission is consistent with the Foundation's history of benefiting mankind through advancements in agriculture," said Michael A. Cawley, president of the Foundation. "We are pleased with the opportunity to contribute to and participate in this endeavor."

At least initially, PIPRA will develop guidelines to assist in the management of intellectual property so that it may be available to serve a greater public benefit. PIPRA will also host a Web-based database to provide information about technologies and their respective availability.

Member institutions include the Rockefeller Foundation, the McKnight Foundation, the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research and more than eleven public universities.

A paper outlining PIPRA appeared in the July 11, 2003, issue of Science. Articles concerning PIPRA and its initiatives have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and The Washington Post. Additional information about PIPRA is available at www.pipra.org.

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The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a non-profit organization conducting agricultural, forage improvement, and plant biology research; providing grants to numerous non-profit charitable, educational and health organizations; and assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs.

To learn more, visit the Noble Foundation Web site at http://www.noble.org.

More news releases available at www.noble.org/Press_Release