Food security and sustainability of resources are concerns that are rarely far from the headlines. While solutions to these challenges must be multi-disciplinary, industrial and agricultural biotechnology has already been used to transform efficiency across a wide variety of industrial process and offers huge potential to do more.
Industrial enzymes are used in myriad industrial processes, with novel enzymes and novel applications continuing to be found. Our IP experts have a long history of involvement in protein engineering and industrial enzyme technology, including extensive offensive and defensive opposition work at the European Patent Office. The team also has particular experience in industrial microbiology, biofuel production and biosourced polymers, working alongside our chemists.
Gene editing technologies such as CRISPR are beginning to radically alter the field of functional genomics and the engineering of industrial microbes and crops. We are proud to have been at the forefront of developments in this area, having worked with innovators of the CRISP-Cas9 technology, as well as those using it to develop new commercial products.
In the area of plant bioscience, the political interest in food production has introduced regulatory and legal complexities. Our specialised and expert plant bioscience team understand the toolkit of approaches which can be used to protect innovation in this area and the need for a flexible approach which can adapt to the shifting landscape. As well as patents and trade marks, we can offer advice and assistance in obtaining Plant Variety Rights (PVRs) and National Listings in both the UK and Europe.
