Patenting the Future of Crops: IP Strategies for Plant Synthetic Biology & Novel Genomic Techniques (Panel)
As Novel Genomic Techniques (NGTs) and synthetic biology redefine plant breeding, navigating global intellectual property frameworks has never been more critical or complex. This panel brings together leading plant IP attorneys Andrea Williams and Rich Wells to dissect the evolving legal landscape surrounding gene-edited crops and synthetic traits. The discussion will cover practical strategies for securing and defending plant biotech patents, balancing proprietary traits with open innovation, and managing the diverging regulatory and patent frameworks between Europe, the UK, and global markets.
About the speakers
Dr Andrea Williams
Andrea Williams is a Chartered (UK) and European Patent Attorney, and a Partner at Marks & Clerk. With over 15 years' experience in drafting and prosecuting patent applications in the life sciences field, she heads Marks & Clerk's Lifesciences Agritech practice. Andrea's work centres on filing and prosecuting patent applications worldwide for genetically modified organisms, particularly genetically modified plants, and she has secured patent protection for numerous important plant traits, including transgenic and gene-edited plants currently in field trials. She also regularly advises on plant variety rights in the UK and internationally, and provides broader IP strategy support, including portfolio audits, patentability and freedom-to-operate opinions, and IP strategy reports for investors and other stakeholders. She has also presented at the Plant Variety Protection Conference.
Dr Rich Wells
Rich Wells is a Senior Patent Attorney at Tropic Biosciences, where he supports IP strategy for the company's gene-editing work in crops such as bananas and coffee. Before joining Tropic, he built extensive experience at Potter Clarkson. He is a European and Chartered UK patent attorney, educated at the University of Sheffield. Rich writes and speaks regularly on plant IP and agritech topics, including the practical implications of evolving UK and EU Plant Breeders' Rights frameworks for biotech start-ups navigating patent strategy in tighter funding environments.