Agrochemicals

Agricultural practices are under huge scrutiny: environmental concerns, issues of sustainability, security and reliability interplay with commercial aspects relating to the cost and the quality of agricultural products, be they plants or livestock. Historically, agrochemicals have featured prominently in the development of new and improved methods of agronomy and animal husbandry. The opportunities within these areas of agriculture are vast, and offer exciting prospects for those working in both the chemical and life sciences fields. Novel technologies proving clear agricultural benefits are deserving of protection, and Mewburn Ellis can provide the bespoke advice and support for those looking to secure a strong commercial position in a frequently highly competitive area.

Agrochemicals are wide-ranging in their use, their activity and fundamentally in their structures also. Mewburn Ellis can provide a strength and depth of intellectual property experience that is unrivalled, and is well matched to the challenges in this technology. We have a strong, personal interest in animal and plant health and the environmental benefits that arise from a close control of pests and diseases, closely aligned with biosafety concerns. Many agricultural technology firms now place environmental protection at the forefront of their research work and this aligns with our own values and ethos, and we are proud to work for clients who promote and develop sustainably agriculture around the world.

We can provide the critical assessment of the experiments that support the latest agrochemical innovations, and we appreciate the difficulties in obtaining data from complex biological models and extensive field trials. Indeed, we are also regularly work with our clients to design those experiments and to select comparisons that will show an invention to its greatest advantage. We look to exploit good data, and use it as the basis for strong, defendable patents. Our hard work from the very start of the research and development process gives our clients the reward of strong - frequently foundational – intellectual property with clear commercial relevance. Our interest in the larger relevance of the technology to its exploitation also provides us with the opportunity to clear the disrupting obstacles placed by competitors. Our work in opposing competitors’ patents in Europe is highly envied, and we can point to many significant examples where we have severely limited or entirely destroyed the patents of those attempting to limit the work of our clients.

We support innovation, and we are always attracted to agrochemical firms who marry forward thinking research work with a strong social responsibility. We can and will look to support those companies who encourage agronomy and livestock health with environmental sustainability.