PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 12:46 AM by Luigi

UH agrees to give up 3 patents on taro

Native Hawaiians are determining which entity will receive the patents

Associated Press, Honolulu Star Bulletin.

The University of Hawaii announced yesterday that it will give three patents on genetically enhanced, crossbred taro plants to native Hawaiians.

Discussions were under way within the Hawaiian community to determine the appropriate entity to receive the patents, UH officials said.

Native Hawaiian activists, farmers and students have held protests demanding the university give up the patents and stop genetically altering taro, which many Hawaiians consider a sacred plant.

"The University of Hawaii has a strong desire to maintain appropriate respect and sensitivity to the indigenous Hawaiian host culture," said UH-Manoa Vice Chancellor for Research Gary Ostrander.

"Taro is unique to the Hawaiian people in that it represents the embodiment of their sacred ancestor," he said. "As such, it is appropriate to make an exception to our standard policy of holding all patents."

Sarah Sullivan of Hawaii Seed, one of the groups involved in the taro protests, said there are still concerns over the concept of "patenting life."

"A major issue is that culturally significant plants such as taro should not be owned," Sullivan said. She added that she also has concerns about who gets the university patents.

The patents arose from work conducted by a university faculty member in the 1990s to help Samoan taro growers whose crops were hard hit by a leaf blight.

Plants from Hawaii and Palau were crossbred producing three strains that were shown to have increased disease resistance. The patents were granted in 2002.

Farmers using the patented taro varieties are required to pay licensing fees to the university if they are running a business, according to Cy Hu, associate dean of the university's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.



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DIVA-GIS	Sunday, June 04, 2006 Posted 12:46 AM by Luigi UH agrees to give up 3 patents on taro Native Hawaiians are determining which entity will receive the patents Associated Press, Honolulu Star Bulletin. The University of Hawaii announced yesterday that it will give three patents on genetically enhanced, crossbred taro plants to native Hawaiians. Discussions were under way within the Hawaiian community to determine the appropriate entity to receive the patents, UH officials said. Native Hawaiian activists, farmers and students have held protests demanding the university give up the patents and stop genetically altering taro, which many Hawaiians consider a sacred plant. "The University of Hawaii has a strong desire to maintain appropriate respect and sensitivity to the indigenous Hawaiian host culture," said UH-Manoa Vice Chancellor for Research Gary Ostrander. "Taro is unique to the Hawaiian people in that it represents the embodiment of their sacred ancestor," he said. "As such, it is appropriate to make an exception to our standard policy of holding all patents." Sarah Sullivan of Hawaii Seed, one of the groups involved in the taro protests, said there are still concerns over the concept of "patenting life." "A major issue is that culturally significant plants such as taro should not be owned," Sullivan said. She added that she also has concerns about who gets the university patents. The patents arose from work conducted by a university faculty member in the 1990s to help Samoan taro growers whose crops were hard hit by a leaf blight. Plants from Hawaii and Palau were crossbred producing three strains that were shown to have increased disease resistance. The patents were granted in 2002. Farmers using the patented taro varieties are required to pay licensing fees to the university if they are running a business, according to Cy Hu, associate dean of the university's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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