Home > IP Topics Index > Putting Intellectual Property to Work: Experiences from Around the World > Successful Commercialization of Insect-Resistant Eggplant by a Public–Private Partnership: Reaching and Benefiting Resource-Poor Farmers > Editor's Summary, Implications and Best Practices

Eggplant is a widely consumed vegetable crop in the tropics. Unfortunately, it is also commonly infested by Eggplant Fruit and Shoot Borer (EFSB), which devastates both plants in the field and eggplant fruits post-harvest. Infestation inflicts a 70% crop loss. Conventional breeding for resistance efforts have been unsuccessful, so farmers rely heavily on pesticides. These chemicals, however, are expensive, and the pest is becoming more and more resistant to them. Moreover, some pesticides damage the environment and/or are illegal.

A new solution to the problem of EFSB has been developed by MAHYCO, a private Indian company. It was the first company in India to develop a transgenic hybrid eggplant genetically engineered with a gene that provides resistance to EFSB. The gene (cry1Ac) is obtained from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). A spore forming bacterium, Bt produces crystal proteins (called Cry proteins) that are toxic to many species of insects, including EFSB. It thus reduces the need for pesticide applications.

This breakthrough was made possible by MAHYCO obtaining the rights under license for the use of the Bt cry1Ac gene technology for insect pest management from the Monsanto Company. The license also allows for sublicensing of the technology on a royalty free basis to a partnership of public institutes and agricultural universities in India, Bangladesh, and the Philippines. This consortium is developing a non-hybrid form of Bt eggplant for use by farmers in developing countries. The non-hybrid form will be less expensive, but given the production and yield differences between the two varieties, more farmers might choose the hybrid technology.

The first transgenic Bt hybrids developed by MAHYCO are slated to be commercially released in India by the end of the 2006-2007 season, after the fulfillment of all regulatory requirements. The transgenic Bt open pollinated varieties under development by the public-private partnership are expected to be commercialized about six months later. This case study is an excellent example of how biotechnology applications can be concurrently commercialized for the market and subsidized for poorer market segments.

Key Implications and Best Practices

Given that IP management is heavily context specific, these Key Implications and Best Practices are intended as starting points to be adapted to specific needs and circumstances.

For Government Policymakers

• Public-private consortia can bring the benefits of agricultural biotechnology to resource-poor farmers. Policies and legislation that facilitate such partnerships should be encouraged.

For Senior Management (university president, R&D manager, etc)

• Public-private partnerships address not only technology transfer but also distribution issues: participating public institutions can deliver high quality biotechnology applications through their own public distribution systems on a non-profit basis.
• With proper donor support, biotechnology applications can be concurrently commercialized for the market and subsidized for poorer market segments.
• The management of public-private partnerships allows to build on the contributions from many disciplines. However, this also requires astute management practices.

For Scientists

• Developing a technology is an enormous accomplishment, however, the technology ought to be adapted to local farming practices.

For Technology Transfer Officers

• Effective, sustainable technology transfer requires the participation of multiple parties, the coordination of resources and the requisite capacity to manage both technology and intellectual property. The technology transfer office will likely play a pivotal role in this process.