Ten years ago, a Netherlands company got the patent right to produce teff and its products. Ethiopia has requested to acquire the patent right with no avail.
Dr. Melese Mario, General Director of Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute told Addis Zemen that only the Netherlands Company has the patent right to sell teff in the form of flour or cake in Germany and other five countries.
Teff is a gluten-free, and free from amino acid, increasing its demand around the world. Understanding and anticipating its demand in the future, Ethiopia should utilize the opportunity to be benefited from the world market by ensuring its patent right, according to Dr Melese.
The patent right would enable Ethiopia to supply the product legally to European market, create opportunity to supply teff to international market, and motivate farmers to improve and increase production.
Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office Acting Director Ermias Yemenebirane for his part said that European countries don’t know the fact that teff is an Ethiopian treasure; rather they recognize it as one food type of a Netherlands Company. The company is changing its name from time to time and gain patent right in some European countries to produce teff product, he adds.
– By Tsegaye Tilahun