The Effects of Plant Breeders’ Rights on Wheat Productivity and Varietal Improvement in South African Agriculture

Charity Ruramai Nhemachena, Johann Kirsten and Binganidzo Muchara
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Charity Ruramai Nhemachena: Department of Finance and Economics, Graduate School of Business Leadership, University of South Africa, Midrand 1685, South Africa
Binganidzo Muchara: Department of Finance and Economics, Graduate School of Business Leadership, University of South Africa, Midrand 1685, South Africa

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 12, 1-16

Abstract: The strengthening of the intellectual property rights (IPRs) for plant varieties provide incentives for breeding companies to invest more resources in plant breeding. The main objective of this paper was to analyze the effects of strengthening the wheat variety intellectual protection on wheat productivity and the release of new varieties. The strength of IPR systems was measured using an intellectual property (IP) protection index, and plant breeders’ rights (PBRs) granted for wheat varieties. The empirical analyses were based on correlation and multiple regression analyses. The results showed that strengthening IPR systems in South Africa contribute to improving wheat productivity and increasing the number of wheat varieties released. Furthermore, although the robust coefficients of the other IPR variables are positive, they are statistically insignificant for all scenarios. There is a need for more incentives beyond granting PBRs and strengthening of IPR systems to be provided in the whole wheat sector to stimulate increased investments and the release of new varieties.

Keywords: intellectual property rights; plant breeders’ rights; wheat productivity; South Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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