At the End of Property: Patents, Plants and the Crisis of Propertization

The book explores the idea of ownership in the realm of plant breeding, highlighting the controversial aspects of turning seeds, plants, and genes into property and how this endangers the viability of the seed industry.

Format: Hardback
Length: 214 pages
Publication date: 25 June 2024
Publisher: Bristol University Press

The past few decades have seen the emergence of novel property systems, encompassing a wide spectrum of ownership arrangements, from data ownership to national control over genetic resources. This evolving landscape holds profound implications for wealth distribution and our understanding of property rights. In this book, we delve into the concept of ownership in the realm of plant breeding, examining how plants have been legally and materially transformed into property. We highlight the contentious aspects of commodifying seeds, plants, and genes, raising concerns about the potential threats to the sustainability of the seed industry. By examining ownership not merely as a legal concept but as a complex bundle of laws, practices, and technologies, this book makes a valuable contribution to scholars of intellectual property studies, anthropology of markets, science and technology studies, and related fields.

Introduction:
The past few decades have witnessed the emergence of novel property systems, encompassing a wide spectrum of ownership arrangements, from data ownership to national control over genetic resources. This evolving landscape holds profound implications for wealth distribution and our understanding of property rights. In this book, we delve into the concept of ownership in the realm of plant breeding, examining how plants have been legally and materially transformed into property. We highlight the contentious aspects of commodifying seeds, plants, and genes, raising concerns about the potential threats to the sustainability of the seed industry. By examining ownership not merely as a legal concept but as a complex bundle of laws, practices, and technologies, this book makes a valuable contribution to scholars of intellectual property studies, anthropology of markets, science and technology studies, and related fields.

Ownership in Plant Breeding:
In the field of plant breeding, ownership has taken on a new dimension, with plants being legally and materially transformed into property. This transformation has significant implications for the distribution of wealth and the control of genetic resources. The commodification of seeds, plants, and genes has led to the creation of new business models and the emergence of powerful corporations that control the genetic material of plants. This has raised concerns about the potential for monopolies and the erosion of biodiversity.

Controversial Aspects of Ownership:
One of the controversial aspects of turning seeds, plants, and genes into property is the question of who can own what. While traditional property rights have been based on physical possession and land ownership, the new property systems have blurred these boundaries. For example, genetic material can be patented, granting exclusive rights to the owner to use and sell the material. This has led to concerns about the potential for genetic discrimination and the commodification of life.

Endangerment of the Seed Industry:
The commodification of seeds, plants, and genes has also endangered the viability of the seed industry. Traditional seed systems have relied on open-pollination and the exchange of seeds between farmers to maintain genetic diversity. However, with the rise.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529233667