Recognising IP in the countryside

Chile, the magazine ‘El campo’ (countryside) is celebrating its 35th anniversary and one of its articles refers to the importance of Intellectual property in this area.

The article written by Patricia Vildósola Errázuriz views IP as a key development. Interviewing Dario Polloni, general manager of Copeval (leader in the distribution of supplies and services for the Chilean agricultural sector), he asserts that Chile has great opportunities as an agricultural country and as an exporter of food which is recognized internationally as a reliable and secure market. However there is the need to strengthen IPRs since according to him if there is not “assurances for the generator of varieties of plants, grains, seeds, semen, or whatever today's technology that requires protection under patent, we cannot have them in the country”. This is enforced by the fact that all new developments that are being launched into the world are protected. Because of this, he says, it is important that Chile is seen internationally as protecting new developments.

Another point that the article made is that IP has been an important support in the development of powerful national seed industry. Therefore, with intellectual property rights at stage the country invest in research.

It is good to see that different fields acknowledge the importance of IP not only for the creators or authors but also for a country and a society as a whole.

Full article here.