A team of Thai rice experts will visit the US next month to collect samples of Jazzman rice to see if the new strain violates a patent for Thai Hom Mali fragrant rice.
Jazzman rice caused a scandal last month when the Thai trade commissioner in Chicago raised concerns that the US-developed aromatic grain could damage Thai exports when it hits supermarket shelves next year.
Apichart Vanavichit, director of the Rice Gene Discovery and Rice Science Centre at Kasetsart University, said his team would embark on an independent fact-finding mission as inquiries by state agencies had failed to make any headway.
The team would investigate whether the method to produce Thai Hom Mali rice's distinctive aroma, which was patented by Thai scientists, had been used to develop Jazzman rice.
Scientists at the National Science and Technology Development Agency identified genes that cause the aroma in Hom Mali rice. They also developed a process to deactivate the genes to reduce the rice's fragrance.
The process was patented in 2008.
Mr Apichart, one of the patent holders, said Jazzman rice could seize market share from Thai Hom Mali rice in the US.
The scientist said he suspected Jazzman rice was genetically modified as the strain produced unusually high yields of 1.2 tonnes per rai. Hom Mali rice produces 800 tonnes per rai.
Thai patent law should be amended to cover the patenting of genetic resources, such as rice genes, to better protect Thai plants, Dr Apichart said.
But activists and rice industry experts do not believe the patent system can give effective protection.
Biodiversity advocates warn that amending the law could be a double-edged sword as it shows Thailand accepts the patenting of living organisms.
If Thai scientists patent rice genes it could pave the way for foreign biotechnology and agricultural firms to patent the genes of other local plants.
Source: Bangkok Post
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