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David Jefferson

Research Fellow, The University of Queensland
Dr David Jefferson is a Research Fellow with the 'Harnessing Intellectual Property to Build Food Security' ARC Laureate Project at The University of Queensland School of Law. His research centres on the intersection of intellectual property and related legal regimes on agricultural and food systems. David has several current projects. One area of work focuses on issues related to the governance of native genetic resources that are relevant to the development of uniquely Australian foods. Another line of inquiry that David is pursuing relates to re-imagining systems of intellectual property for plants in ways that would be more 'ecological', by integrating with novel legal concepts such as the rights of nature. Finally, David is studying the impact of the institutionalisation of the notion of food sovereignty on domestic laws for the ownership and circulation of seeds. David's primary research sites are in Australia and Latin America.

David holds a PhD from The University of Queensland School of Law, a Juris Doctorate (JD) degree from the University of California, and a Masters of Arts in Community Psychology from Suffolk University. He is licensed to practice law before the State Bar of California, USA. David has engaged in legal research and practice in the areas of intellectual property, agriculture, genetic resources governance, and biotechnology for numerous years, including as a member of the Public Intellectual Property Resource for Agriculture (PIPRA) (USA) and in collaboration with the UC Davis Chile Life Sciences Innovation Center (Chile) and the Northwest Center for Biological Research (Mexico).

In 2016, David received a United States Fulbright Fellowship to study the making of a new intellectual property law in Ecuador.

The case of the pirated blueberries: courts flex new muscle to protect plant breeders' intellectual property

Dec 01, 2019 03:35 am UTC| Insights & Views Law

A few weeks ago, the Federal Court of Australia ordered a farmer in New South Wales to pay A$290,000 to a blueberry-producing company because he had grown and sold a proprietary variety of the fruit without...

Economy

Global Energy Crisis: Iran Conflict Triggers Record Oil Supply Shock

The ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran has triggered an unprecedented global energy crisis, marked by the largest daily oil supply disruption in history. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has significantly reduced...

U.S. Freezes Dollar Transfers to Iraq, Pressures Government Over Iran-Backed Militias

The United States has reportedly halted U.S. dollar shipments to Iraq and paused key security cooperation programs as part of a broader effort to pressure Baghdad into addressing the influence of Iran-backed militias...

Asian Stocks Mixed as Tech Shares Decline While Japan’s Nikkei Hits Record High

Asian stock markets showed mixed performance on Wednesday as technology stocks weakened, reflecting overnight losses on Wall Street, while Japans benchmark Nikkei 225 reached a new record high. Investors remained cautious...

Japan Exports Surge for Seventh Month as AI Demand Offsets Middle East Trade Disruptions

Japans exports extended their growth streak for a seventh consecutive month in March, driven largely by strong global demand linked to artificial intelligence (AI) and data center expansion. According to government data,...

Oil Prices Slip Amid Iran Ceasefire Extension, Hormuz Disruptions Keep Markets Tense

Oil prices edged lower during volatile Asian trading on Wednesday as U.S. President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire with Iran. While the move raised hopes for continued peace talks, ongoing...

Politics

Syrian Asylum Rejections Rise in Europe as Minority Safety Concerns Persist

A growing number of Syrian asylum seekers are facing rejection across Europe despite ongoing security concerns, particularly among minority groups. After the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad and the end of Syrias...

Virginia Redistricting Vote Boosts Democrats Ahead of Midterm Elections

Virginia voters approved a new Democratic-backed congressional map on Tuesday, a decision that could significantly reshape the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives ahead of the upcoming midterm elections....

Trump Administration Files Fraud Charges Against Southern Poverty Law Center Over Informant Payments

The Trump administration has filed criminal charges against the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a prominent civil rights organization known for tracking extremist groups, accusing it of defrauding donors through its...

Global Military Talks in London Aim to Reopen Strait of Hormuz and Protect Shipping

Military planners representing more than 30 countries are gathering in London for two days of high-level discussions focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and strengthening maritime security in one of the worlds most...

Canada-USMCA Review 2026: No Collapse Expected Despite July 1 Deadline

Canadas top trade negotiator to the United States, Janice Charette, has signaled that the upcoming July 1 deadline for reviewing the USMCA trade agreement should not be viewed as a breaking point for North American trade...

Science

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

NASA Artemis II: First Crewed Moon Mission Since Apollo Takes Four Astronauts on 10-Day Lunar Journey

NASAs Artemis II mission launched Wednesday, marking humanitys return to crewed lunar exploration for the first time since the Apollo era. Carrying four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, this historic 10-day mission...

NASA's Artemis II Mission: First Crewed Lunar Journey Since Apollo

NASA's Artemis II Crew Arrives in Florida for Historic Moon Mission

The four astronauts chosen for NASAs Artemis II mission have touched down at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the beginning of final launch preparations for the first crewed lunar journey in over 50 years. NASA...

SpaceX Pivots Toward Moon City as Musk Reframes Long-Term Space Vision

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed a significant shift in the companys near-term space exploration strategy, announcing that SpaceX is now prioritizing the development of a self-growing city on the Moon rather than focusing...

Technology

SK Hynix to Invest $13 Billion in AI Chip Packaging Facility

South Koreas SK Hynix is accelerating its push into the artificial intelligence semiconductor market with a major new investment aimed at strengthening its global competitiveness. The company announced plans to invest...

Nvidia Pushes 800V Data Center Power Systems to Boost Efficiency and Cut Costs

NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) is reportedly exploring next-generation data center power solutions by engaging major South Korean power equipment manufacturers to develop higher-voltage infrastructure. According to The...

LG Innotek Stock Hits Record High on $68M Automotive Wi-Fi 7 Deal

LG Innotek shares surged to an all-time high on Wednesday, fueled by strong investor confidence following the companys latest automotive supply agreement with a European partner. The Seoul-listed stock (KS:011070) climbed...

Samsung Boosts DRAM Supply to Tesla as AI-Driven Memory Demand Surges

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (KS:005930) has significantly increased its monthly DRAM shipments to Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA), reflecting the growing demand for advanced memory solutions in electric vehicles and artificial...

SpaceX Eyes $60B Cursor Deal to Boost AI Power Ahead of IPO

Elon Musks SpaceX has announced plans to collaborate with AI coding startup Cursor, with the option to acquire the company later this year in a deal valued at $60 billion. The aerospace giant also revealed an alternative...