PLANT BREEDERS’ RIGHTS

WEDNESDAY 11 JANUARY

AIPH NOVELTY PROTECTION WEBINAR FEATURING UPOV AND CIOPORA

The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) invites you to register for a free online Novelty Protection Webinar, on Wednesday, 11 January. The programme begins from 13:00 (CET), and there will before the ending at 14:00 to join in a question and answer session. Mr Jack Goossens, Chairman Supervisory Board Royal FloraHolland and Chair of the AIPH Ornamental Production Committee, will open the meeting and introduce the speakers. The first presentation is from Mr Marien Valstar on Developments and

Challenges within UPOV.

Farmers and growers all over the world need good varieties. The UPOV system is designed to promote the development of new plant varieties. Modern challenges important for plant breeding are climate change, the need to adapt agriculture and horticulture, the ongoing discussion on the loss of biodiversity and ecosystems, and the upcoming use of new genetic techniques. To get a better insight and understanding of the importance of the UPOV system, Mr Valstar will give a general impression of how UPOV could contribute to these challenges. Mr Valstar has been representing the Netherlands within UPOV for many years and recently in the position of president of the UPOV Council. Drawing from these experiences, Mr Valstar will give the audience a better insight into the workings of UPOV through his presentation. The second presentation is from Dr Edgar Krieger on The obliged use of a

variety denomination in the industry (Article 20 UPOV/ art 17 EU regulation 2100/94).

To support the effective working of the UPOV Plant Breeders’ Right system, Dr Krieger will make a serious request to the ornamental sector to mention variety names correctly on all products. With the current trend of new variety names constantly coming into commercial production, often quickly invented for marketing purposes, the impression often prevails that variety names can be used arbitrarily or not used at all. Dr Krieger will clarify and argue for the importance of the correct and consistent use of variety names.

AIPH Sparring Partner Group (SPG)

The webinar will be followed by an update on the Plant Breeders’ Rights field concerning the growers’ and producers’ position in the sector given by Ms Mia Buma. This update is for members of the As the world’s champion for the power of plants, one of AIPH’s missions is to protect and promote the interests of the ornamental horticulture industry. Through our Novelty Protection Group, we host a Sparring Partner Group (SPG). Members are constantly informed about the latest developments, the juridical consequences, and possible solutions. Thanks to these exchanges, discussions, and better understanding and awareness of the importance of Plant Breeders’s Rights and the other fields of intellectual property rights, we can support a sound working PBR system at both the national and international levels and contribute to future solutions and a new balance. The SPG is a closed group, open only to AIPH Members and Affiliate Members.

REGISTER HERE