Leh, July 24: The CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM) organized a one-day Agrotech IP Conference on the theme "Nurturing Innovation and Intellectual Property in Plant Varieties and Agri-Startups" in Leh-Ladakh UT.
An official spokesperson said the conference marked the sixth day of celebrations of the National Intellectual Property Festival, held under the auspices of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM), commemorating 75 years of India's Independence.
The festival was inaugurated at CSIR-IIIM, Jammu, on July 17, 2023. The conference witnessed enthusiastic participation from farmers, entrepreneurs, scientists, research scholars, and students from various institutions, alongside officials from other Government departments.
Addressing the audience, Dr. Padma Gurmet, Director of the National Institute for Sowa-Rigpa (NISR) in Leh-Ladakh UT, provided insights into traditional knowledge in the context of intellectual property rights. He highlighted the significance of geographical indications such as raktsey karpo apricot and Ladakh's wood carving, stressing the conservation of intellectual property rights in traditional medicine, considering Ladakh's status as a hub of region-specific medicinal and aromatic plants.
Dr. Manju Gerard, Principal Scientist from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, delivered an informative session on the scope of intellectual property rights in fostering sustainable agricultural start-ups.
Mr. D.S. Raj Ganesh, legal advisor from the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority (PPV&FRA), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, provided valuable insights into the protection of plant varieties and the Farmers Rights Act, 2001. He elaborated on the key provisions, rights, and obligations for farmers and plant breeders under the PPV&FRA Act, emphasizing the benefits of utilizing protected varieties for crops and medicinal plants grown in Ladakh.
Dr. Qazi Parvaiz, Senior Principal Scientist of CSIR-IIIM, delivered the welcome address and presented an overview of various agricultural practices in the Ladakh region.
Dr. Dhiraj Vyas, Sr. Principal Scientist and HOD, Plant Sciences Division, highlighted the research domains of CSIR-IIIM in sync with the Ladakh region. He stressed the importance of developing region-specific agro technologies tailored to suit Ladakh's unique environment while protecting intellectual property rights.
During the event, Dr. Nasir Ul Rasheed, Senior Scientist, emphasized the global focus on developing time-appropriate technologies, protecting inventions, and facilitating real-time technology transfer through licensing for industrial and agricultural growth, leading to overall economic development.
Dr. Kancherla Prasad, the Convener of the conference, underscored the significance of such gatherings in promoting knowledge sharing, collaboration, and intellectual property protection in the Agrotech industry. The conference aimed to empower the local community by imparting essential knowledge and understanding of their rights and responsibilities under the PPV&FRA Act. It also aimed to educate scientists, farmers, research scholars, and students about the key provisions and benefits of this critical legislation.
Dr. Padma Lay, a prominent scientist, conducted the proceedings and expressed gratitude in the vote of thanks.
The event witnessed a participation of over 60 attendees, including scient ists, entrepreneurs, farmers, students, and government officials from Ladakh UT, with an additional 72 participants attending the lectures through the online mode.
The Six-Day IPR Festival, organized by CSIR-IIIM at Jammu, Srinagar, and Leh-Ladakh UT, successfully raised awareness among approximately 2000 participants, covering different domains of pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and allied areas. Participants expressed their pleasure and thanked Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director of CSIR-IIIM Jammu, for selecting Ladakh UT as one of the venues for the IPR conference.
The IPR Festival program was organized under the Chief Patronage of Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR-IIIM, and the patronage of Er. Abdul Rahim, Chief Scientist & Head, IIIM Srinagar Branch.
