Patents & Germplasm

Berry J. Treat is the germplasm property manager for the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station (FAES) and 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 44 cultivars, and OTL reported 33 invention disclosures. Total new cultivars and new inventions number 281 in the past five years. The majority of plant germplasm and inventions developed at UF/IFAS is protected through the federal US Office of Patents and Trademarks and/or the Plant Variety Protection Office. The licensing agents work closely with UF's faculty and plant breeders (currently workin 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 2005-06 and a total of $20 million in the past five years. IFAS research programs continue to benefit and grow because of technology transfer with private/commercial company partners.