Intellectual Property, Technology Transfer & Germplasm

John C. Beuttenmuller is the Germplasm Manager for the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station (FAES) and the Intellectual Property and Licensing Director for Florida Foundation Seed Producers (FFSP). He is responsible for the marketing and licensing of all germplasm discovered and developed in the experiment station. Together with the Office of Technology and Licensing (OTL), they facilitate invention and technology transfer to the agriculture industry and manage all forms of intellectual property for IFAS using an invitation to negotiate (ITN) process.

In the past year, FAES has released 36 cultivars, and OTL reported 30 invention disclosures. Total new cultivars and new inventions number 319 in the past five years. The majority of plant germplasm and inventions developed at UF/IFAS are protected through the federal US Patents and Trademarks Office and/or the Plant Variety Protection Office. The licensing agents work closely with UF's faculty and plant breeders (currently working in over 40 crop areas) and assist in commercializing new and improved varieties and inventions around the world.

IFAS revenue from licensed inventions was approximately 4.4 million in 2007-08 and a total of $21.5 million in the past five years. IFAS research programs continue to benefit and grow because of technology transfer with private/commercial company partners.

FAES Germplasm Management Office Contact Information

John C. Beuttenmuller
1041 McCarty Hall D
PO Box 110200
Gainesville, FL 32611-0200
Phone: 352-392-9446
Fax: 352-392-4965
beutt@ufl.edu

See below for useful links to information regarding intellectual property protection and licensing new cultivars developed by the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station.

• UF/IFAS Cultivar/Germplasm Releases (Coming soon.)
• Active Breeding Programs (Coming soon.)