Intellectual property provides opportunities for agricultural innovators
In the agricultural industry, innovation is encouraged, supported and protected by intellectual property laws.
With the transition of agriculture from an industry based on natural resources to one based on science and research, strong IP strategy and protection has become increasingly important. IP stimulates research into new technologies as well as the improvement of existing products that advance sustainable agricultural productivity around the world.
A bright future for Canadian agriculture
Canada’s agricultural sector has grown and diversified into a global innovation leader and continues to be a driving force in international trade. Canada is the world’s fifth-largest agriculture exporter and is the sixth-largest importer of agriculture and agri-food products in the world. As Canada’s reach expands, strong intellectual property protection will only be more essential.
Agriculture is a global concern
The Smart & Biggar team stays on the cutting edge of global change. Our clients include ground-breaking start-ups as well as some of the largest agricultural products and services companies in the world — including companies in agricultural manufacturing, chemicals, seeds, pulp and paper, as well as research institutions and universities.
We collaborate with life science, chemistry and engineering IP practitioners around the world to obtain protection for Canadian agricultural inventions abroad, and protection for foreign agricultural inventions in Canada. While our offices extend across the country, our practice and experience cover the globe.
Our depth of knowledge is unmatched
Our team of IP lawyers and agents has unmatched experience in evolving agricultural technologies, as well as practical and business-oriented knowledge gained from in-house experience. We help our clients exploit, leverage and license their IP assets and advise on the IP and technology aspects of commercial projects, collaborations and transactions. With our IP and industry-related experience, our clients have a focused team to develop and implement IP management and strategy to strengthen and protect their business objectives and corporate strategy.
We have in-depth experience in all areas of the agricultural sciences, including:
- biofuels and biomass
- precision agriculture systems and methods
- farm equipment
- crop development, including genetic engineering (e.g. plant and animal expression systems, homologous recombination)
- marker assisted breeding
- stress tolerance
- plant/microbe interactions
- oenology, including viticulture, fermentation, yeast engineering
- biomaterials (e.g. pulp and paper products, cellulose microfibrils, fiber-reinforced polymers)
- fertilizers and nutrient formulations
- silviculture, including artificial seeds
- aquaculture and waste treatment technologies
- animal feeds
- food and beverage
- nutritional supplements (e.g. natural products)
- environmental biotechnology (e.g. gene containment, bioremediation)
Technical expertise
Smart & Biggar’s Agricultural Sciences practice group is a multi-disciplinary team that includes experts with advanced degrees in engineering, computer science, plant science, molecular and cellular biology and biochemistry and chemistry. Our extensive expertise and relevant technical training enable us to offer unparalleled services relating to the protection of agricultural innovation, strategic management of international patent portfolios, protection of plant breeders’ rights, or assistance with agricultural regulatory issues.
Legal expertise
Smart & Biggar is committed to protecting agricultural innovation through precise and focused intellectual property enforcement and litigation where required to maximize business opportunity and market share.
Our award winning team of leading IP litigators has appeared at the highest appellate levels of common law and civil law courts, representing clients in both of Canada’s official languages. Having appeared in the Supreme Court of Canada on more than 50 occasions, we have handled a significant share of Canada’s most commercially important and technically complex intellectual property law cases, many of which are leading Canadian precedents.
Our combination of legal expertise and advanced technical training in relevant subspecialties enable us to offer unparalleled IP protection. We are leading experts in patent drafting and prosecution, litigation proceedings, transactions involving the acquisition and licensing of new technologies, regulatory issues, and the strategic management of international and domestic patent and trademark portfolios.