The development of new plant varieties is the essential work of plant breeders, enabling them to meet the growing demand of improved varieties from farmers and consumers while adapting to changing climates. Through innovative plant breeding and research, breeders develop improved varieties that offer higher yields, better resistance to pests and diseases, and greater adaptability to environmental challenges.
These advancements not only support sustainable agriculture but also contribute to global food security, nutrition and economic growth.
Frequently asked questions
In order to obtain protection, the breeder needs to file individual applications with the authorities of UPOV members entrusted with the task of granting breeders’ rights.
UPOV has developed UPOV PRISMA, an online tool which helps applicants to apply for breeders’ rights with all participating PVP Offices, via the UPOV website.
While the UPOV Convention requires members of the Union to provide for appropriate legal remedies for the effective enforcement of breeders’ rights, it is a matter for breeders to enforce their rights.
Yes. The definition of variety in the 1991 Act of the UPOV Convention, Article 1 (vi) states that “variety” means a plant grouping within a single botanical taxon of the lowest known rank, which grouping, irrespective of whether the conditions for the grant of a breeder’s right are fully met, can be “defined by the expression of the characteristics resulting from a given genotype or combination of genotypes […]”. The notion of “combination of genotypes” covers, for example, synthetic varieties and hybrids.
IMAGE: LOREM IPSUM
ARIPO Joins UPOV PRISMA, Enabling Online Filing of Plant Variety Protection Applications
Growing Change: How New Raspberry Varieties Transformed a Chilean Small Farmer’s Future
Growing Change: How New Raspberry Varieties Transformed a Chilean Small Farmer’s Future
Stories
Image: Robert Okayo
Latest news
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
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
Diversity in Tomato
How plant breeding has increased diversity in tomato
Netherlands (Kingdom of the)
Triple Helix - government, business and academia working together. Learn how this complements plant variety protection
Brazil
New varieties of Common Bean: Impact achieved by EMBRAPA through PVP of new varieties in Brazil
Netherlands (Kingdom of the)
How UPOV helps a family plant breeding business in the Netherlands to operate globally
Chile
Improved options for raspberry growers in Chile
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
Argentina
Using the UPOV system to benefit custodians of native wild germplasm in Argentina
Ecuador
The role of PVP in the development of a new blackberry variety that improves farmers’ working conditions