Agritech

A multidisciplinary sector addressing the challenges of improving global agricultural productivity.

Agriculture is at the heart of human civilization, but traditional methods alone can’t meet the demands of our growing population and changing climate. Enter Agritech – the fusion of agriculture and technology. Agritech is transforming farming practices, enhancing productivity, and ensuring sustainability for future generations. Improvements in efficiency and sustainability in agriculture continue to drive ingenious solutions that harness various cutting-edge technologies, such as genomics and gene editing, robotics, microbiome, big data, algorithms and AI.

As such, inventions in this sector increasingly involve crossover technologies. Our Agritech Team includes highly experienced attorneys across life sciences, chemistry, and engineering, who are familiar with pooling expertise and working in multidisciplinary teams to service your IP needs. Our Agritech Team works closely with our unique specialists in microbiome and bioinformatics, and can further assist with seeking protection for plant variety rights alongside patents.

HGF’s attorneys are already working at the forefront of agricultural innovation. We deal with inventions in accelerated plant breeding procedures, algal culturing, genetically engineered or modified crops, actives and formulations for plant protection products such as herbicides and pesticides, soil monitoring and preparations, growing and farming apparatus, surveillance and diagnostics, precision and digital agriculture, genetically engineered or modified animals, improved husbandry methods, microbiome and carbon neutral systems.

We believe in building lasting partnerships with our clients. Our team of experts is always available to provide integrated IP support and guidance, helping you make the most of your agritech inventions.

For more information on how our Agritech team can help you with your IP, please contact us to speak with one of our attorneys.

Latest updates

The draft of The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Regulations 2025 reveals practical details on how to obtain a Precision Bred Organism status

In a recent blog post we discussed the Precision Breeding Regulatory Framework developed by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). Further details on the application process for Precision Bred Organism confirmation …

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Regulation of NGT plants in Europe- Polish Presidency proposes an alternative solution to the Patent ban

In the latest development on the new proposed legislation for the regulation of NGT (gene-edited) plants in the EU, the Polish Presidency have proposed an amendment which removes the proposed …

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Can the Chancellor’s so-called “Europe’s Silicon Valley” really replicate the innovative activity of its namesake?

The Chancellor of the UK, Rachel Reeves, recently unveiled plans to deliver an Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor that promises to boost the UK economy by up to £78 billion by 2035.  …

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UPC on Doctrine of Equivalents

Plant-e Knowledge BV & anor v Arkyne Technologies SL UPC_CFI_239/2023 (Brinkman, Granata, Walker & Koke) – 22 November 2024 The Hague Local Division has handed down the first substantive UPC …

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The EPO Board of Appeal comments on the scope of the morality exclusion from patentability

The recent decision, T1553/22 of the Board of Appeal required the Board to consider the scope of the exclusions from patentability under Article 53(a) EPC. The invention in this case …

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Update on the Precision Breeding Act 2023: details emerge of the new simplified regulatory pathway for gene edited plant and animal derived food and feed products

The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 could come into force as early as spring 2025. It empowers the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to create a new simplified regulatory pathway …

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Agritech Thymes: Arusha Protocol Enters into Force

Since being introduced in July 2015, the Arusha protocol for the protection of novel plant varieties in Africa has finally entered into force on the 24th of November 2024, after …

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Agritech Thymes: The EPO Looks at the Morality and Patentability of Therapeutics Derived from Traditional Knowledge

This case (T2510/181) heard before the Technical Boards of Appeal at the EPO in May 2024 relates to the morality and novelty of substances of a natural origin. The invention …

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Let's talk

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