‘Linux for Lettuce’: Open Source Biotechnology and Agricultural Innovation
Michael Blakeney · UWA Profiles and Research Repository (University of Western Australia) · 2017
Genetic Modification (‘GM’) crop technology is increasingly perceived as an important solution for overcoming the agricultural strains caused by climate change. This is reflected in the exponential growth in the patenting of so-called climate ready genes. This patenting, undertaken by a small group of life science companies, will make it difficult for researchers to obtain access to proprietary DNA and to research tools such as genetic markers, mutants, binding factors, transcription factors, etc. This article questions whether the Open Source approach, derived from the open source software movement, can be taken to secure access to proprietary DNA and seeds.