Industry stakeholders emphasised on faster variety registration, stronger enforcement and dispute resolution mechanisms, clearer regulatory pathways for emerging technologies such as gene editing.

The seed industry has called for stronger implementation of India’s intellectual property (IP) regime to safeguard innovation and sustain investments, especially at a time when global disruptions are impacting supply chains and input costs.

“Input costs have seen a sharp escalation due to global uncertainties, and in such scenarios, R&D investments are the most vulnerable. A predictable and enforceable IP regime is essential to ensure that innovation does not take a backseat,” said Ajai Rana, Chairman, Federation of Seed Industry of India.

The call comes against the backdrop of the ongoing West Asia conflict, which has disrupted global supply chains, and at a time when India is sharpening its policy focus on pulses and oilseeds. It also assumes significance in the context of evolving trade discussions, including the ongoing US–India engagement, where agricultural innovation frameworks and IP protections are increasingly under focus.

Industry leaders point out that research and development (R&D), a long-gestation and high-risk investment, is often the first casualty during periods of economic stress triggered by global uncertainties.

While India has seen notable private-sector innovation in hybrid crops such as maize and cotton, supported by stronger built-in IP protections, this momentum has not extended to self-pollinated crops like pulses and oilseeds. Private-sector participation in these segments remains limited, not due to a lack of scientific capability, but because the current economic framework does not adequately support investments under existing IP conditions.

India’s continued dependence on imports for pulses and edible oils highlights the urgency of boosting domestic productivity and innovation. Government initiatives such as the National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO) and the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses have further underscored the strategic importance of these crops for national food and nutritional security.

However, challenges in the implementation of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act, 2001, including delays in variety registration, weak enforcement, and regulatory ambiguities, continue to constrain private-sector investment.

“India cannot achieve self-reliance in pulses and oilseeds without unlocking private-sector innovation. Strengthening the implementation of our IP framework is critical to attract sustained investment and reduce import dependence in these strategic crops,” said Paresh Verma, Director General, Federation of Seed Industry of India.

Industry stakeholders emphasise that the priority should not be to overhaul the existing framework, but to strengthen its implementation. This includes faster variety registration, stronger enforcement and dispute resolution mechanisms, clearer regulatory pathways for emerging technologies such as gene editing, and renewed incentives for R&D alongside stronger public–private partnerships.

As India navigates geopolitical uncertainties and positions itself at the intersection of food security and global trade, a robust and effectively implemented IP regime in agriculture will be critical to driving the next phase of innovation, growth, and self-reliance.