A ‘new’ variety of rice was patented by a foreign company, though such varieties have been present in India for a long time. This is related to

• Co-667

• Sharbati Sonora

• Basmati

• Lerma Rojo

C.

Basmati

1. In 1997, an American company got patent rights on Basmati rice through the US patent and trademark office that was actually been derived from Indian farmer’s varieties.
2. The diversity of rice in India is one of the richest in the world, 27 documented varieties of Basmati are grown in India.
3. Indian basmati was crossed with semi-dwarf varieties and claimed as an invention or a novelty.
4. Sharbati Sonora and Lerma Rojo are varieties of wheat.