CP Ram Clarifies New Basil Patent Covers Only Four Varieties Developed with Kasetsart University

Key summary

CP Ram Managing Director Wiset Visitsitwinyu stated that the company's patent registration for four new basil varieties does not grant ownership of all Thai basil types. The varieties, named Kaew Juri 01 through 04, were developed over more than 10 years in collaboration with Kasetsart University Kamphaeng Saen Campus and registered in 2027 specifically as raw materials for the company's ready-to-eat food production. CP Ram does not sell seeds or seedlings of these varieties to the general public; instead, they are grown via a 'Farmer Partner' model involving demonstration plots and farmer networks. Traditional Thai basils, numbering over 300 varieties, remain available for farmers and consumers to plant and use freely. The company addressed concerns regarding cross-pollination, noting that pollen spread is distinct from seed propagation and that legal implications depend on specific biological and legal conditions.