Intellectual property rights are important for biotechnology. They can provide incentives for local researchers and firms, they have come to be required by international law, and they can assist in the international transfer of technology. The lack of appropriate intellectual property policies within a country can prohibit the formation of initial partnerships and deter foreign investments.

As Egypt moved towards genetic engineering, it recognized the need to ensure that the developer of a novel gene can obtain appropriate protection and it began to strengthen its laws regarding intellectual property. The Egyptian patent law, dating from 1949, offered no protection to food or pharmaceutical products on the ground that food did not constitute an invention and that a monopoly over producing such products is harmful to the public’s health.

As Egypt is undergoing a major agricultural reform in which the private sector will play an essential role, the Government of Egypt is currently modifying its existing patent law. Under a new draft law, agriculture, foodstuffs, medical drugs, pharmaceutical compounds, plant and animal species, and microbiological organisms and products are included as patentable subject matter. This is a significant strengthening from the current law and brings Egypt in line with international standards.

A new law such as this, and expanded understanding of intellectual property, should assist Egypt in acquiring technology more readily and in entering into more effective scientific strategic alliances that will help in developing new technologies and in strengthening local research capabilities. Such an alliance has already been forged between AGERI and a multinational company, Pioneer Hi-Bred.