The LL.M. I and II students of the Postgraduate Department, St. Joseph’s College of Law, undertook an academic visit to the GKVK Campus, Bengaluru, on 17 December 2025. The visit encompassed three departments at GKVK:

i. Session I: Seed Science and Technology

ii. Session II: Genetics and Plant Breeding

iii. Session III: Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry

The visit was attended by postgraduate students along with faculty member Dr. Apoorva Khandelwal. In each department, a Senior Associate Professor was designated to provide comprehensive insights into the respective departmental activities, with particular emphasis on Intellectual Property Rights , including patents and the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act.

At the Department of Seed Science and Technology, Prof. Venkappa discussed key aspects such as seed production, hybrid seeds, the National Seed Project, and seed mutation. This was followed by a visit to the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, where Prof. Mallik explained issues relating to parental lines in crops, plant breeding methods, and genetically modified crops. The final session was held at the Department of Soil Science, where students were introduced to various soil types and their processes of formation.

The visit concluded with a tour of the Agricultural Museum. Overall, the programme offered valuable insights into the relationship between plant varieties, farmers’ rights, patents, and intellectual property law. Eight students participated in the visit, and interactive question-and-answer sessions were conducted with the faculty members of each department.