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Technology Marketing Services (U of MN variety licensing)

Technology Marketing Services

Your source for University of Minnesota developed crop varieties

Working under the terms of an agency agreement, Minnesota Crop Improvement Association (MCIA) is the exclusive marketing agent of new and improved agronomic crop varieties developed by the University of Minnesota.  MCIA collaborates with the College of Food Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) and the Office for Technology Commercialization at the University of Minnesota and serves as the primary point of contact for producers and processors interested in the latest varieties suitable to Minnesota and the upper Midwest. 

MCIA is a private, non-profit association of agricultural producers with over 100 years of experience serving Minnesota agriculture.  Since its founding in 1903, MCIA has taken an active role in the improvement of crops and the development of the Minnesota seed industry.  MCIA has a long history of cooperation with the University of Minnesota, working with a wide variety of crops including soybeans, small grains, turf grasses and forage legumes.  In the role of marketing agent, MCIA utilizes its knowledge of the University of Minnesota Plant Breeding programs and its many contacts in agribusiness and the seed industry to identify marketing opportunities for new varieties.

Upon selection of a new variety for release, MCIA works closely with the CFANS faculty and staff to identify possible uses and determine the best method for licensing those plant materials.  MCIA contacts potential licensees to determine their interest and cooperates with them if there is a need for additional agronomic or product evaluation.  As the marketing agent, MCIA negotiates the terms of license agreements.  The University of Minnesota retains ownership of all licensed varieties.

The overall goal of MCIA’s Technology Marketing Services program is to get the products of CFANS’ research into the hands of individuals and companies that can best utilize the newly developed technologies.  MCIA is the connection between CFANS and agribusiness providing maximum benefit to the University, Minnesota agriculture and the world.

For more information, contact Roger Wippler or Ben Lang at 1-800-510-6242 or email at wippl002@umn.edu (Roger) or ben.lang@mncia.org (Ben).

Varieties Available

• Soybeans
  • Conventional varieties
  • Specialty types
  • Food grade varieties
• Small Grains
  • Wheat
  • Barley
  • Oats
• Turf Grasses
  • Kentucky bluegrass
  • Fescues
  • Perennial Ryegrass
• Forage Legumes

There are numerous varieties available for licensing or evaluation. To discuss which lines will work best for your purpose, please contact Roger Wippler or Ben Lang at 1-800-510-6242 or email at wippl002@umn.edu (Roger) or ben.lang@mncia.org (Ben).

The Licensing Process

Minnesota Crop Improvement Association (MCIA) acts as the licensing agent for the University of Minnesota, handling plant materials and varieties developed by the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics.

• Plant Material Transfer Agreement
  Prior to obtaining seed for evaluation, all interested parties must obtain a Plant Material Transfer Agreement from MCIA.

A Plant Material Transfer Agreement grants permission to an individual or company to evaluate the agronomic traits and/or assess the potential for development and/or commercialization of varieties.  Selection, breeding, and/or crossing are not permitted under the terms of the Plant Material Transfer Agreement.  This agreement does not grant any rights for commercialization.  A license/commercialization agreement is required to propagate varieties for seed or commercial use.

• License/Commercialization Agreements
  Parties interested in the marketing rights of varieties developed by the University of Minnesota may obtain a license agreement for propagation and/or commercialization.  The University of Minnesota retains ownership of all licensed varieties, which can be licensed under exclusive or non-exclusive agreements.

  • Exclusive – An exclusive license agreement grants a party sole marketing rights to a variety in a given territory.  Exclusive agreements provide an option that may permit the licensee to sublicense to other parties.  Terms of the agreement, such as, fees, royalties and other provisions, are negotiated by MCIA on behalf of the University of Minnesota.

  • Non-Exclusive – Varieties licensed to more than one party in a given territory are granted non-exclusive license agreements.  Parties are granted marketing rights to commercialize, grow, and sell the variety but are not permitted to grant sublicenses.  Terms of the agreement, such as, fees, royalties and other provisions, are negotiated by MCIA on behalf of the University of Minnesota.

If you are interested in evaluating or licensing a variety, contact Roger Wippler or Ben Lang at 1-800-510-6242 or email at wippl002@umn.edu (Roger) or ben.lang@mncia.org (Ben).

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©2011 Minnesota Crop Improvement Association. All rights reserved.
Photos are courtesy of U of MN Agricultural Experiment Station and USDA NRCS.
This page was last updated on February 1, 2012 9:13 AM .