The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) convened the 2024 annual sessions from October 21-25, bringing together over 200 participants to discuss advances in plant breeding and the role of UPOV in fostering agricultural innovation.
Speaking to delegates at the session, Secretary General Daren Tang said the work of UPOV should be seen in its broader, international context, and especially in its strong connection with global development goals.
“With agriculture touching on all but two of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the work of UPOV is a horizontal enabler of the SDGs in addressing our common, global challenges like hunger, climate change and sustainability.”
Vice Secretary-General Yolanda Huerta provided an overview of UPOV’s recent activities and welcomed Armenia as the newest member of UPOV. This addition brings UPOV’s membership to 79 members, covering 98 States.
"We are delighted to welcome Armenia as our newest member this year. The UPOV office stands ready to collaborate with members and stakeholders in advancing plant breeding, especially in the context of climate change and global population growth.” said Ms. Huerta
The week-long discussions focused on the current state of agricultural innovation and UPOV's efforts in promoting an effective plant variety protection system, encouraging the development of new plant varieties for the benefit of society.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Huerta addressed the challenges and opportunities facing the plant breeding community. She highlighted the need for innovation in variety testing and the importance of leveraging new technologies to meet the evolving needs of plant breeders, farmers and society.
“The shorter breeding cycles and commercial lifespans of new varieties challenge the UPOV system, and it's crucial to explore how we can leverage DNA-based information to enhance testing and variety collection management. Effective cooperation between UPOV members, both those providing and those requesting services, will be key to driving this innovation forward," Ms. Huerta stated.
The sessions also provided positive advice on the legislations of two countries, the United Arab Emirates and Laos PDR, which allows them once the laws are adopted to become members of UPOV.