Many Latin American countries are currently introducing intellectual property protection legislation for plant varieties. This process is the result both of foreign pressure and of domestic demands from firms which aim at enhanced participation in global technological cooperation. This article concludes that the introduction of plant breeders' rights legislation may improve access to those plant genetic resources which are concentrated with foreign private firms. However, exploitation of these resources may be restricted by the right holder, especially when it substitutes for existing exploitation in the main (foreign) markets.
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