Innovation in this sector is driven by the convergence of biological science, chemistry, engineering, and digital technology, creating unique intellectual property (IP) challenges that require cross-disciplinary expertise.
We work with clients across the sector, including scientific and industrial research organisations, universities, start-ups, small-medium and large entities, and multinational companies. Our clients develop technologies that shape the future of food production, animal health, crop management and sustainable farming, with a focus on improving efficiency, sustainability, and productivity.
Our experience spans traditional agricultural technologies through to highly advanced, data-driven solutions. The technologies we protect are often multifaceted – combining plant or animal biology with chemistry, engineering, software, electronics, and AI. This includes innovations in plant and animal genetics, breeding technologies, agrochemicals, veterinary products, food technologies, sensing and monitoring systems, waste processing, and precision agriculture.
To match technologies in this sector, our team is deliberately multifaceted with experience across life sciences, engineering and IT. Our life sciences attorneys working in this sector have significant technical depth, including most holding PhD qualifications, with many having extended academic or industry post-doctoral research experience. As digital innovation increasingly shapes agricultural technologies, our electronics, physics and IT attorneys also play a key role – particularly where software, data analytics, IoT and AI intersect with biological or mechanical systems. Importantly, our attorneys work collaboratively across disciplines to ensure clients with complex technologies benefit from integrated advice.
We help clients manage complexities around patentable subject matter as well as differing regulatory frameworks across jurisdictions, so they can make informed decisions about whether to pursue patent protection, PBRs, or a combination of both. We offer clear guidance on protection strategies aligned with our clients’ commercial objectives, geographic markets, and long-term innovation plans and product pipeline.
We assist with patentability and freedom to operate searches, patent drafting and prosecution in Australia and overseas, patent term extension, design registration, product launch support, oppositions and enforcement of rights, and drafting, reviewing and negotiating key commercial agreements. Where required, our sector experts collaborate with our litigation group on patent infringement and validity matters.
Clients in this sector face growing operational costs, regulatory pressures, climate uncertainty, and global market volatility. By supporting our clients to protect, commercialise, and enforce their IP rights, we help them maintain competitive advantage, support investment and deliver technologies that improve productivity, sustainability and resilience across the agricultural sector. To do so, we take a long-term, relationship-driven approach – working alongside clients from early development through to commercialisation, enforcement, and portfolio growth.
