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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] ARS Has Patented a Forage Plant that Wards off Ruminant Gastrointestinal Nematode

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  • From: Richard Robinson <rrobinson AT nasw.org>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] ARS Has Patented a Forage Plant that Wards off Ruminant Gastrointestinal Nematode
  • Date: Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:37:02 -0500

On Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:23:32 -0600, TxBeeFarmer wrote:
> This is the link to the article:
>http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2010/100218.htm
>
> I'm not sending posting this information because I want you all to know
>about
> the ARS findings - although they are very interesting.  What I'm wondering
> about is the "patent".  What exactly does this mean?  Does it mean ARES owns
> the grass now and can charge for it if we have it?  If so, how can they take
> OUR tax dollars to pay for research, patent what they find, and charge us
>for
> it?  I sure hope I'm wrong in my thinking!  What else have they patented?! 
> Please explain this to me.

The press release says they have patented "formulations" of the clover,
probably meaning they have either developed a processing system that
maximizes the effectiveness of the tannins in the plant that do the job, or
they have developed a variety that works better than the common variety. I'm
guessing the former, based on a quick reading of the scientist's web page.
The patent may be to protect the process from being sold by a commercial
interest; I believe there are a number of government-held patents like that,
in which the process is freely available for all to use, and none to profit
from.

--
Richard Robinson
http://www.nasw.org/users/rrobinson/






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