21 March 2025, New Delhi: Amid growing debates on the intersection of artificial intelligence and intellectual property (IP) rights, and the need to revise India’s patent and copyright laws, the seed industry has urged for a comprehensive yet non-intrusive framework to protect the nation’s valuable IP assets. Industry experts believe that stronger enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR) could unlock India’s potential in the global seed trade, protect farmers from counterfeit products, and bolster the competitiveness of Indian agriculture on a global scale.
At the ‘Awareness Session on Enforcement of IPR in Seeds’, organized by the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) in collaboration with the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPVFRA), Government of India, and the Department of Agriculture, Maharashtra, stakeholders gathered to discuss the need for stricter IPR enforcement. The event saw the participation of farmers, industry leaders, and government officials, including Praveen Deshmukh, Chief QC Officer, Department of Agriculture, Maharashtra. Discussions focused on tackling the threat of counterfeit seeds, creating a secure seed market, and enhancing India’s IPR framework.
Highlighting the state’s commitment to combating seed piracy, Deshmukh emphasized the need for capacity-building initiatives, including state-led awareness campaigns and training programs to educate farmers and industry players about the risks of unauthorized seeds. According to him, a significant part of seed piracy arises from a lack of awareness about existing IPR laws, making education crucial to curbing violations.
Marking its third edition after successful sessions in Delhi and Hyderabad, the Pune conference stressed the urgency of safeguarding seed innovation through stricter regulatory measures. Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Chairperson of PPVFRA and former Secretary of DARE & DG, ICAR, stressed that farmers must remain central to all policy decisions. He highlighted that the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act (PPVFRA) aims to drive agricultural prosperity, and effective IPR enforcement would benefit both farmers and the nation.
“With two-thirds of the formal seed supply originating from the private sector, there is an urgent need to raise awareness about IPR and plant variety protection among all stakeholders. The use of unregistered or unauthorized seed sources compromises quality and endangers farmers’ livelihoods,” Mohapatra stated. He further revealed that guidelines for strengthening provisional protection and penalizing IPR violations are currently being drafted.
Raghavan Sampathkumar, Executive Director of FSII, acknowledged the complexities of India’s regulatory landscape, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts between policymakers, seed companies, and enforcement agencies to mitigate seed piracy. He called for stricter penalties against counterfeit seed sellers, improved seed certification processes, and traceability mechanisms to enhance transparency and accountability.
Dr. Dinesh Agarwal, Registrar General of PPVFRA, expressed appreciation for the collaborative efforts of the Government of Maharashtra and FSII in facilitating dialogue on strengthening India’s agricultural ecosystem. “India’s rich agro-biodiversity is safeguarded by farmers, who account for half of all biodiversity registrations. Our aim is to provide farmers with a diverse choice of crops while ensuring seamless licensing and enforcement under the IPR regime,” Agarwal noted.
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