A ‘new’ variety, derived from Indian farmers’ varieties by crossing them with semi-dwarf varieties, was patented by an American company and claimed as an invention. Which crop was it?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Basmati rice
Biopiracy is the use of bio-resources of a country by companies without proper authorisation or compensatory payment. NCERT gives Basmati as its main example. Basmati has been grown in India for centuries. In 1997 an American company got patent rights on Basmati rice, after crossing Indian Basmati with semi-dwarf varieties and claiming the result as a ‘new’ variety.
Option (1) Turmeric — Incorrect. Turmeric is an Indian traditional herbal medicine. Attempts have been made to patent its uses, but it is not a variety made by crossing.
Option (2) Bt cotton — Incorrect. Bt cotton is a GM crop carrying a Bt toxin gene. It was not derived from Indian farmers’ varieties by crossing with semi-dwarf varieties.
Option (3) Basmati rice — Correct. The ‘new’ Basmati was derived from Indian farmers’ varieties crossed with semi-dwarf varieties and patented as an invention.
Option (4) Neem — Incorrect. Neem, like turmeric, is a traditional herbal medicine whose uses people have tried to patent. It is not a crossed crop variety.
NCERT Extract:
Ethical Issues – “… In 1997, an American company got patent rights on Basmati rice through the US Patent and Trademark Office. This allowed the company to sell a ‘new’ variety of Basmati, in the US and abroad. This ‘new’ variety of Basmati had actually been derived from Indian farmer’s varieties. Indian Basmati was crossed with semi-dwarf varieties and claimed as an invention or a novelty. … Several attempts have also been made to patent uses, products and processes based on Indian traditional herbal medicines, e.g., turmeric neem.”