Industrial & Agricultural Biotech

Sterne Kessler’s industrial and agricultural biotechnology team has developed landmark patents and won the seminal disputes in industrial biotechnology (white biotechnology) and agricultural biotechnology (green biotechnology).

Sterne Kessler’s team knows the technology behind many of the industrial and agricultural biotechnology innovations today. This includes plant and microorganism genetics; molecular biology; cellular biology and genetic engineering; plant growth and development; chemistry; biochemistry; and bioreactor, fermentation, and bioprocessing technology. Most team members have related industry experience and are uniquely qualified to help clients protect and enforce their intellectual property in this sector.

Innovation associated with white and green biotechnology ensure that plants and microorganisms will play a central role in our ability to meet the challenges facing society—feeding and supporting the world’s rapidly growing population and reducing our environmental footprint. Innovation in industrial and agricultural biotechnology is key to overcoming some of the most urgent challenges of the 21st century—developing sustainable and renewable energy sources; reducing greenhouse emissions and other forms of pollution; increasing crop tolerance to adverse environmental stresses; and increasing agricultural yields, productivity, and nutritive value. Innovations in industrial biotechnology can reduce the depletion rate of vital resources by providing bio-based products and materials from renewable feedstocks.

Decades of Experience Producing Results

We have more than 40 years of experience helping companies strategize, build, and enforce worldwide biotechnology-driven intellectual property portfolios. Our accomplished team of lawyers, patent agents, and technical specialists have prepared and prosecuted many of the landmark patents in the industry. Further, our team was at the center of the biggest dispute between industrial biotech innovators—delivering a decisive win on behalf of our client.

We counsel a range of companies with products, services and processes directed to, among others:

  • Plant and microorganism genetic and metabolic engineering platforms
  • Genetically modified plants and microorganisms
  • Herbicides and pesticides
  • Biofuels
  • Industrial enzymes
  • Biopolymers
  • Bio-based chemicals, materials, intermediates, and products
  • Bioreactor and fermentation technology
  • Downstream processing
  • Bioprocessing
  • Biocatalysts
  • Biorefining
  • Nutraceuticals
  • Food processing

Related Resources

Webinar Recordings & Materials

Federal Circuit IP Appeals: Summaries of Key 2023 Decisions

January 23, 2024

Firm Announcements

Federal Circuit Affirms Sweet Win for SweeGen in Patent Invalidity Battle

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox January 3, 2024

Speaking Engagement

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November 13, 2023 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM PST

Books and Chapters

U.S. Biotechnology Patent Law, 2023 ed.

Thomson Reuters September 8, 2023

Speaking Engagement

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June 1, 2023 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM PST

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May 17, 2023 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM PST

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Speaking Engagement

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November 8, 2022 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM PST

Books and Chapters

U.S. Biotechnology Patent Law, 2022 ed.

Thomson Reuters August 31, 2022

In the News

Impossible Foods Tests a Tastes-Like-Meat Patent in Court

Bloomberg Law April 5, 2022

Speaking Engagement

Food for Thought: What Is the Optimal IP Strategy for Cell- or Plant-Based Protein?

February 18, 2022 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM PST

Speaking Engagement

Should We Patent That?

October 12, 2021 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM PST

Books and Chapters

U.S. Biotechnology Patent Law, 2021 ed.

Thomson Reuters September 8, 2021

Speaking Engagement

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June 17, 2021 12:20 PM - 1:10 PM PST

Bylined Articles

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Managing IP June 1, 2021

Speaking Engagement

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March 16, 2021 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM PST

Podcast Recording & Transcript

Innovation Conversations: Dr. Claire Fraser

January 26, 2021

Press Release

Sterne Kessler Named Among 2021 “Best Law Firms” by Best Lawyers

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox November 6, 2020

Webinar

Drug Development Pathway Series: Intellectual Property Workshop

October 28, 2020 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM PST

Speaking Engagement

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October 28, 2020 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM PST

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October 27, 2020 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM PST

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Sterne Kessler Client Wins 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for CRISPR-Cas9 Technology

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C. October 8, 2020

Press Release

Firm and Seven Directors Recognized in 2020 LMG Life Sciences Rankings

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C. October 6, 2020

Speaking Engagement

Drug Development Career Panel

September 28, 2020 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM PST

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September 24, 2020 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM PST

Books and Chapters

U.S. Biotechnology Patent Law, 2020-2021 Edition

Thomson Reuters August 12, 2020

Speaking Engagement

Pharma IPR Conference 2020

March 4, 2020 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM PST

MarkIt to Market®

MarkIt to Market® – July 2019

July 31, 2019

Speaking Engagement

CPIP Summer Institute

July 23, 2019 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM PST

Global Patent Prosecution

Global Patent Prosecution Newsletter – June 2019

June 12, 2019

Bylined Articles

Cannabis Patenting at an All-Time High Despite Illegal Status

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C. June 12, 2019

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Hemp Legalization and the International CBD Boom

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C. June 12, 2019

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A Useful Roadmap for Claiming Cannabis Inventions

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C. June 12, 2019

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Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C. March 29, 2019

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WIPO February 26, 2019

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What Cannabis Patent Applicants Can Learn From Biopharma

Law360 January 17, 2019

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Obtaining Plant Variety Protection in Europe

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox December 13, 2018

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Protecting Agricultural Advances

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox December 12, 2018

Speaking Engagement

Microbiome R&D and Business Collaboration Forum: USA

October 29, 2018 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM PST

Speaking Engagement

13th International Congress on Biofuels & Bioeconomy

October 18, 2018 2:00 PM - 2:25 PM PST

Global Patent Prosecution

Global Patent Prosecution Newsletter – October 2018

October 10, 2018

Bylined Articles

The State of Patentable Subject Matter Internationally

October 10, 2018

In the News

Seeking outsized results

The Boston Globe June 8, 2018

Bylined Articles

Patenting the Plant Microbiome

Industrial Biotechnology June 1, 2018

Speaking Engagement

The 2017 Algae Biomass Summit

October 30, 2017

Bylined Articles

Strategies For Protecting Biotechnology In Brazil And China

Law360 October 6, 2017

Global Patent Prosecution

Global Patent Prosecution Newsletter – September 2017

September 15, 2017

Bylined Articles

Recent Trends on the U.S. Doctrine of Equivalents

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox September 15, 2017

Bylined Articles

A Seismic Shift in UK Patent Infringement Law – Actavis v. Eli Lilly

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox September 15, 2017

Bylined Articles

Doctrine of Equivalents and Prosecution History Estoppel Around the World

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox September 15, 2017

Global Patent Prosecution

Global Patent Prosecution Newsletter – August 2017

August 15, 2017

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Patent Term Extension Consideration for BioPharma Patents

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox August 15, 2017

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Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox August 15, 2017

Bylined Articles

Global Patent Term Extension/Supplementary Protection Certificate Provisions

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox August 15, 2017

In the News

Global IP Strategies for Procuring and Protecting Green Innovations: A Focus on Europe, Brazil, China, and the US

25th Edition: European Biomass Conference and Exhibition June 12, 2017

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Patent Office Issues First Post-Grant Review Decisions

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IP Protection Strategies

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Are Your Claims Patent Eligible

Biofuels International July 15, 2015

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Protecting Your Ideas

Biofuels International January 8, 2014