- PepsiCo Inc has sued four Gujarati farmers for cultivating FC5 Potato variety.
- Pepsi alleges patent infringement.
- Pepsi uses FC5 exclusively for its popular Lay’s potato chips.
- FC5 has low moisture content.
- Lower moisture content enables easy processing of this variety into snacks.
- Potato is one of the 151 crop species open for registration in India under the PPV&FR Act
Protection of Plant Variety and Farmers Right Act
- This act was passed in 2001.
- Objectives of the act
- Protection of plant varieties
- Protect rights of farmers and plant breeders
- Encourage the development and cultivation of new varieties of plants.