AgBio

A broadly based, multidisciplinary business sector which is subject to regulation in certain technical areas on a jurisdictional basis, and is impacted by a variety of factors at every level.   

An overriding fundamental issue for the sector is how global food production can be intensified to feed a projected nine billion people by 2050, whilst dealing with impacts of climate change.   

Improvements in efficiency and sustainability in agriculture continue to drive ingenious solutions that harness various cutting-edge technologies, such as genomics and CRISPR gene editing, big data, algorithms and AI.  As such, inventions in this sector increasingly involve crossover technologies, requiring the pooling of expertise and effort amongst HGF’s life scientists, chemists and electronics and software attorneys. 

Regulatory aspects govern many plant protection product inventions, and additional levels of IP protection can be available via Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs).  There are also potential Convention on Biological Diversity and Nagoya Protocol constraints which can present particular R & D hurdles, and IP issues for inventions which use certain biological materials and their derivatives.  

HGF has the corresponding necessarily specialised and multidisciplinary team of attorneys and lawyers for dealing with IP in this sector. The AgBio and Agritech team is comprised of technically and commercially experienced attorneys, including senior ex-Global 500 company attorneys who provide additional levels of commercial experience and acumen.  Where IP issues are more legal rather than technical, our team adjusts to include or be led by solicitors who are highly experienced in contract negotiation, litigation or management level briefings on IP issues developing technology areas.    

HGF’s attorneys deal with inventions in accelerated plant breeding procedures, genetically engineered or modified crops, actives and formulations for plant protection products, diagnostics, precision and digital agriculture, genetically engineered or modified animals, improved husbandry methods and carbon neutral systems.

Latest updates

What is EUDAMED and how will it affect your IP strategy?

The “European database on medical devices”, or “EUDAMED”, is the EU’s IT system created by the new Medical Devices Regulation (MDR) and In Vitro Diagnostics Medical Devices Regulation (IVDR). When …

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Event - 8th-9th February 2023

5th Annual Microbiome & Probiotic Conference 2023

The 5th Annual MarketsandMarkets Next Gen Microbiome and Probiotics Conference will take place in San Diego on the 8th-9th of February. This conference will enable you to learn about microbial …

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Event - 29th November 2022

LSPN Europe 2022

HGF is a silver sponsor of LSPN Europe 2022 on 29th November in London. This event will explore some of the biggest challenges facing the Life Sciences Patent Community right now …

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Food technology companies and investors - the value of IP landscape analysis

Case study – alt fat innovation Many companies and investors are aware of the importance of identifying and protecting their innovations, and in particular of the importance of obtaining patents …

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Event - 22nd September 2022

BioCap Conference 2022

HGF is a gold sponsor at the BioCap Conference 2022. The conference will be held on Thursday 22 September at the Alderley Park Conference Centre. It connects life sciences businesses, …

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Patenting antibodies in the US and Europe

Is the USPTO now stricter than the EPO on antibody claims? A consideration of recent developments from both sides of the pond. Patent protection for monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies and …

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Event - 10th May 2022

The HGF IP in Healthcare Conference 2022

After a challenging couple of years, we are delighted to invite you to join us for HGF’s eighth annual IP in Healthcare Conference. We will review the latest intellectual property …

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Event - 23rd March 2022

HGF webinar: Getting your first filing right

HGF hosted a webinar on Wednesday 23rd March on Getting your first filing right. One of the most often asked questions of patent attorneys is: “when should we file?” Both …

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Let's talk

If you would like to discuss how HGF could help you, contact one of our agbio specialists.