It is possible but unlikely. The U.S. is the world s largest rice exporter. It is difficult for small farmers anywhere to compete with an efficient, mechanized industry and a good transportation system. Being able to grow a desirable strain of rice that was formerly unsuccessful in the U.S. will make it even more difficult for small farmers. This would happen even without patenting.
Genetic engineering makes no difference in the overall picture.
Most plant patents result from plant breeding, not cytogenetic or molecular genetic research. We have been patenting plants for over 100 years and are not about to stop. It isn t patenting, but the basic economics of production that hurts Asian farmers. If Asians can grow traditional Basmati rice more cheaply than U.S. agribusiness can grow the patented variant, Asians will win the market. If they can t, don t blame genetics.