Resources for Farmers on Plant Variety Protection

New plant varieties play a vital role in helping farmers and growers improve productivity, quality, resilience, and profitability.
With access to improved varieties, farmers can grow crops that are more resistant to pests, diseases, and the effects of climate change, while also achieving better yields and quality. These innovations enable farmers to reduce production risks, lower input costs, and meet market demands for diverse and high-quality products, ultimately contributing to more sustainable and profitable farming.
    IMAGE: LOREM IPSUM

    ARIPO Joins UPOV PRISMA, Enabling Online Filing of Plant Variety Protection Applications

"To make money in this business, you have to sell a premium cherry.  It has to be big, firm, juicy and sweet, and the cherries that have com out of Summerland meet those requirements, so you can go into the marketplace. You can get premium price. Your customers are happy. Consumers are happy.  Consumers love to eat them. It's just a win-win-win."
David Mahial, Cherry Grower in Oliver, British Columbia, Manager, Fairview Orchards

"To make money in this business, you have to sell a premium cherry.  It has to be big, firm, juicy and sweet, and the cherries that have com out of Summerland meet those requirements, so you can go into the marketplace. You can get premium price. Your customers are happy. Consumers are happy.  Consumers love to eat them. It's just a win-win-win."

David Mahial, Cherry Grower in Oliver, British Columbia, Manager, Fairview Orchards

Frequently asked questions

New varieties of plants with features such as improved yield, resistance to plant pests and diseases, salt and drought tolerance, or better adaptation to climatic stress are a key element in increasing productivity and product quality in agriculture, horticulture and forestry, whilst minimizing the pressure on the natural environment. Due to the continuous evolution of new pests and diseases as well as changes in climatic conditions and users’ needs, there is a continuous demand by farmers/growers of new plant varieties and development by breeders of such new plant varieties.
The tremendous progress in agricultural productivity in various parts of the world is largely based on improved varieties, together with improved farming practices, and future food security depend on them.

Farmers do not need the breeder’s authorization to sell harvested crop of a protected variety if they have planted the crop using seed that was provided with the breeder’s authorization, or if they have planted seed from the harvested crop within the exceptions to the plant breeders’ rights provided in the legislation of the country concerned (Refer to Explanatory Notes on Exceptions to the Breeder’s Right under the 1991 Act of the UPOV Convention).

The authorization of the breeder is required for the selling of seed of a protected variety by any person.

Under the 1978 Act of the UPOV Convention (see Article 5), the prior authorization of the breeder is required for “the offering for sale” and “the marketing” of the reproductive or vegetative propagating material, as such, of the variety.

Under the 1991 Act of the UPOV Convention (see Article 14(1)) the “offering for sale” and “selling or other marketing” of the propagating material of the protected variety requires the authorization of the breeder.

Yeny Campos, small farmer from Chile growing raspberries

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Videos

Farmer-Breeders in Viet Nam

Rice and longan farmer-breeders using PVP to support their breeding work, bringing benefits for local farmers and the Vietnamese economy

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Development of the seed sector after UPOV membership results in farmers having greater access to high quality seed

Development of the flower industry in Viet Nam

Flower growers benefitting from increased variety choice and technical support as a result of PVP in Viet Nam

Brazil

New varieties of Common Bean: Impact achieved by EMBRAPA through PVP of new varieties in Brazil

China

New Varieties of trees and herbs with high quality developed in China

Chile

Improved options for raspberry growers in Chile

Peru

The plant variety protection system: the benefits for the development of the rice sector in Peru

UPOV system bringing benefits for agriculture in Colombia

See how the UPOV system is supporting agriculture and promoting rural development through new improved varieties, with examples of sugar beet and ornamentals

Tsuyahime rice

A new rice variety bringing increased income for farmers in Japan

Rose industry blooming in Kenya

Discover how the UPOV system enabled Kenya to develop a $500 million cut-flower industry that employs 500,000 Kenyans

Canadian cherry growers benefit from government policy

See how the Government of Canada uses PVP to improve the livelihood of Canadian cherry growers

Uruguay

How PVP enabled a public breeder to ensure a supply of high quality onion seed to farmers

Japan

Ashiro Rindo Story - The story of a group of smallholder rice farmers that used PVP to develop an international flower business

Ecuador

The role of PVP in the development of a new blackberry variety that improves farmers’ working conditions