Suggest you contact Hope Shand, their Research Director, at
rafiusa@harlan.pdial.interpath.net
Hope edits the RAFI Communique, a newsletter that tracks new developments
in biotech ag r & d - well worth subscribing to.
In case that address no longer works, another address for RAFI (but not
direct to Hope) is hn1348@handsnet.org.
On Mon, 20 Nov 1995, Jennifer C. Bokaer-Smith wrote:
> I remember some discussion a while back about Grace's attempts to patent
> Neem, perhaps with questionable ethics. I recall that the worst-case
> scenario was that indigenous farmers would have to pay royalties in order
> to carry on their centuries-old farming practices. Neem is swiftly
> entering the organic pesticides market, although not all certifying
> organizations currently allow it.
>
> Of course this gets into much bigger issues, like should social issues be
> part of the definition of organic? Or, do we continue to limit the
> discussion to the production level (Neem may be a safer alternative to some
> other botanical pesticides)? One could argue for either position.
>
> Does anyone know what the current status of the patent is?
>
> Jennifer Bokaer-Smith
> Division of Nutritional Sciences
> 231N MVR Hall
> Cornell University
> Ithaca, NY 14853
>
> Phone: 607/255-7153
> FAX: 607/255-0178
> e-mail: jcb13@cornell.edu
>
>
>