Source: USDA/ERS submitted to NRP
AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY PATENTS AND LICENSING DATABASE
Sponsoring Institution
Economic Research Service/USDA
Project Status
REVISED
Funding Source
USDA GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0406444
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Mar 1, 2002
Project End Date
Mar 1, 2003
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
USDA/ERS
1800 M STREET NW
WASHINGTON,DC 20036
Performing Department
ECONOMIC RESEARCH SERVICE
Non Technical Summary
Create a classification system and on-line searchable database of agricultural biotechnology patents and licensing arrangements. Identifies what biotechnologys are patented and who owns them. Identifies potential concentration of research knowledge and scientific hold-up problem.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
90271103010100%
Knowledge Area
902 - Administration of Projects and Programs;

Subject Of Investigation
7110 - Research on research management;

Field Of Science
3010 - Economics;
Goals / Objectives
Recent innovations in agricultural biotechnology have raised significant policy questions concerning the potential of research hold-ups, the optimal intellectual property design for maximizing dynamic innovation when innovation is sequential, and the potential effects of concentration on research and market power in the agricultural inputs industry. There are few adequate data sources to answer even the most basic questions, however, such as who is patenting and licensing what technologies. This project will create a classification system and on-line searchable database of agricultural biotechnology patents and licensing arrangements. This will answer the "what" question by defining agricultural biotechnology, listing U.S. patents granted in this area (as well as related patents of more broadly defined biological inventions relevant to agriculture). This project will also identify who generates the innovations (by firm characteristics), who controls the innovations (through mergers and acquisitions) and, to the extent possible, who has access to the innovations (through licensing or other mechanisms). This will answer the "who" question.
Project Methods
This project will create a classification system and on-line searchable database of agricultural biotechnology patents and licensing arrangements. This will answer the "what" question by defining agricultural biotechnology, listing U.S. patents granted in this area (as well as related patents of more broadly defined biological inventions relevant to agriculture). This project will also identify who generates the innovations (by firm characteristics), who controls the innovations (through mergers and acquisitions) and, to the extent possible, who has access to the innovations (through licensing or other mechanisms).

Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06

Outputs
Data on plant varietal protection certificates and agricultural biotechnology field trials has been collected for future addition to the database. An article analyzing the different use of agricultural biotechnology patents by different institutions (e.g. private firms, universities, the Federal government)was published. Private firms dominate ag biotech patenting, but other institutions tend to patent relatively more in different areas than those (plant technologies, molecular level ag biotech) dominated by the private sector. A book chapter is in press describing the creation of the agricultural biotechnology intellectual property database, the novel classification system it provides, and current and potential use of the database.

Impacts
The database continues to be used by researchers inside and outside ERS. Analysis has contributed to understanding of 1)different motivations for acquiring intellectual property; 2) ownership concentration of intellectual property; 3)and other analysis of both ownership patterns and technology sub-classes in agricultural biotechnology patents.

Publications

  • Heisey, P., King, J., Day-Rubenstein, K., 2005, "Patterns of Public-Sector and Private-Sector Patenting in Agricultural Biotechnology", AgBioForum, Vol. 8, Issues 2&3, pp. 73-82
  • Paul Heisey, Anwar Naseem, and Robbin Shoemaker, "Intellectual Property Issues in Science and Commercialization of Agricultural Biotechnology", presentation to conference "Agricultural Biotechnology Research for Public Goods and Private Goods", Washington, DC, May 1, 2006. pp.


Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05

Outputs
The main portion of this database, comprising the utility patents, was posted to the web in August 2004. In FY 2005, the database was described and presented to the IFAFS final workshop "Innovation and Dynamic Efficiency in Agricultural Biotechnology;" to the Ag Biotech Forum; to C-FARE; and was listed in Science magazine's Netwatch feature. The database was also used to analyze agricultural biotechnology patenting by different kinds of institutions. Private sector firms, universities, and the U.S. Federal government all take different approaches to the patenting of agricultural biotechnologies. A journal article was published in October 2005.

Impacts
This effort provided new data and insight into the extent and role of patents used in agricultural biotechnology. The web-based database has recieved considerable use and complements from external sources and will continue to aid research in this area.

Publications

  • Heisey, P., King, J., Day-Rubenstein, K., 2005, "Patterns of Public-Sector and Private-Sector Patenting in Agricultural Biotechnology", AgBioForum, Vol. 8, Issues 2&3, pp. 73-82


Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04

Outputs
The main portion of this database, comprising the utility patents, was posted to the web in August 2004. The database was described and presented in a number of fora, and served as the basis for several initial analyses. For example, private sector firms, universities, and the U.S. Federal government all take different approaches to the patenting of agricultural biotechnologies.

Impacts
This effort provided new data and insight into the extent and role of patents used in agricultural biotechnology. The web-based database has recieved considerable use and complements from external sources and will continue to aid research in this area.

Publications

  • King, J., Heisey, P., 2003, "Ag Biotech Patents: Who's Doing What?", Amber Waves, Vol. 1, Issue 5, U.S. Department of Agriculture, November, pp. 12-13
  • King, J., Heisey, P., Public Provision of Knowledge for Policy Research: The Agricultural Biotechnology Intellectual Property Database, Conference Organized by ERS, Champaign/Urbana, Illinois, April 8, 2004.
  • Heisey, P., Day-Rubenstein, K., King, J., Patterns of Public and Private Sector Patenting in Agricultural Biotechnology, Workshop/Seminar, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC, October 14, 2004.


Progress 10/01/02 to 09/30/03

Outputs
More than 11,000 utility patents, more than 7,000 plant patents issued between 1976 and 2000, as well as other data on plant varietal protection certificates and agricultural biotechnology field trials have been entered into the final database. Preliminary analysis shows that the upward trend in ag biotech patents has outpaced the overall upward trend in patenting throughout the U.S. economy; in all technology classes, the number of ag biotech patents issued has increased sharply in recent years; commercial firms account for the largest number of U.S. ag biotech patents; and overall concentration of ownership of ag biotech patents has increased since 1995 after accounting for mergers and acquisitions within the industry.

Impacts
At this stage, it looks like there are a total 7,000 biotech patents

Publications

  • King, J., Heisey, P., 2003, "Ag Biotech Patents: Who's Doing What?", Amber Waves, Vol. 1, Issue 5, U.S. Department of Agriculture, November, pp. 12-13