20 Feb 2014

The significant research results that emanated from a collaborative research project between the department of agriculture and Nara Institute of Science and Technology of Japan was the identification of a gene that induces the growth of roots or increases the amount of biomass in plants.

Answering a question in Parliament on Tuesday, February 18, the Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Keletso Rakhudu said Botswana would benefit from royalties and from technology transfer as they continued to work with both Nara Institute of Science and Technology and Japan Tobacco Incorporated.

Responding on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Rakhudu said, “subsequently, a joint patent application between the Department of Agricultural Research and Nara Institute of Science and Technology on the gene was filed with the patent cooperation treaty based in Geneva, Switzerland.”

Mr Rakhudu further said the agreement entered into between the government of Botswana and Nara Institute of Science and Technology, as co-owners of the technology, and Japan Tobacco Incorporated is a licensing  agreement that grants Japan Tobacco exclusive rights to commercialise the technology and this could be through them using the technology or sub-licensing the rights to a third party.

“The rights granted are limited to the use of the technology to improve the productivity of cereal crops such as maize, rice and therefore exclude the use of the technology on other crops such as legumes,” he said.

He indicated that upon successful commercialisation, Japan Tobacco Incorporated shall pay royalties at forty-five per cent of profit on an annual basis to the government of Botswana and Nara Institute of Science and Technology who shall share it equally.

Mr Rakhudu further said it has not been predetermined how the revenue arising from the commercialisation would benefit any particular group or community of Botswana including Basarwa,

Furthermore, he said, wild watermelons distribution is not limited to where particular communities reside.

Member of Parliament (MP) for Kgalagadi North, Mr Philip Khwae had asked the minister to brief Parliament on the agreement between Japan Tobacco Incorporated and the Nara Institute of Science and Technology on patent gene found in wild melons (kgwengwe), which would be used to improve productivity of crops such as rice and maize.

Mr Khwae wanted the minister to state how Basarwa communities where the melon is found and the country would benefit. ENDS