Not even one of the seeds that the Institute of Science and Agricultural Technology (ICTA) has improved since 1972 has been patented neither by the Institute or a particular that works within the organization.
"The priority of the Institute is to serve and protect small farmers", said Elias Raymundo, manager of ICTA, to Prensa Libre. He said that all patents are only registered by the Ministry of Agriculture and not patented by ICTA to maintain the free use of seeds and avoid others to take advantage of the material.
Although Raymundo acknowledged "a remote possibility of patenting new discoveries", he explained that the risk is minimal because of the ethics of those professionals working for the institution.
ICTA was created in 1972 and since then has improved 148 seeds in 22 vegetables varieties, specially corn, beans and rice. The Institute is nowadays studying the scope and implications of the new Plant Variety Protection Act.
