The Catalytic Role of Technology in the Commercialization of Plant Varieties in India: A Critical Analysis

Abstract

Technology is an indispensable tool to propel the engine of economies of the nations all across the world. However, the access to modern technologies is not available to all nations on an equitable basis; hence, the categorization between the developed, developing and least developed countries. Technology Transfer has been a controversial issue under the Intellectual Property regime for years now, as without technological innovation and advancement in that sphere, no country can survive with dignity in the modern period. In fact, due to such disparities, the developed countries tend to become more developed, and the least developed tend to go further down the surface, towards regression. But is the “transfer” a matter of concern only amongst countries? Is there no such disparity “within” the nations themselves? Are all the resources equitably divided within the geographical divisions of each nation? These questions often come up, especially when we think of a country as vast and diverse as India. With this paper, the authors seek to highlight the loopholes in the Indian law with regard to technology transfer generally as well as specifically in one of the most important sectors of its economy, i.e., the agricultural sector. It is an attempt to open the minds of the readers to view technology transfer as not merely a global issue, but also a national one.