The PVP Development Program is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality since 2016. The program is proved to be a successful tool for Embassies to improve market access for Dutch plant propagating material as well as a tool for professionalizing local PVP systems. The current health situation is causing enormous changes to economic, logistics and education worldwide. However resilient food security has become now more important than ever. Good legislation and procedures with seeds and plant varieties have become even more important. The PVP Development Program helps to identify how legislation and procedures can be improved in third countries.
"Good varieties to feed the world population"
The Netherlands is world leader in Plant Breeders' Rights and is active in sharing knowledge with third countries. A good example is the annual Plant Breeder’s Rights Training Course, which is provided in collaboration with Wageningen University & Research. This open attitude is based on the idea that the world will benefit from the availability of good varieties. Feeding the growing world population in a responsible and sustainable way is the main goal of improved varieties. This applies not only for food crops, the basis of food security of a country, but also ornamental varieties contribute to the economic development of the country and therefore to quality of life of its inhabitants.
Only an active breeding sector can meet this need for better varieties. A Plant Breeders’ Right system according to the UPOV model allows companies and institutions to obtain sufficient revenue for their breeding work and stimulate them to continue breeding new and better varieties.
An (international) harmonised system for the registration and the protection of new varieties of plants is important for food security and for companies who work in the breeding of plant varieties. This is the focus of the efforts of the Netherlands’ when we share Dutch knowledge on Plant Breeders’ Rights systems with other countries.
In the PVP Development Program, the Netherlands provides a structured response to the requirement to share knowledge in the field of Plant Breeders’ Rights systems around the world.
The road is now open for a fast, specific and continuing response to requests from third countries. Together with Dutch experts they can work to develop and implement Plant Breeders’ Rights systems or improve existing procedures. Naktuinbouw has been tasked with the coordination and a large part of the implementation of the activities. Of course we are accountable to the Ministry on this matter. We work together with the Board for Plant Varieties, the Ministry and other experts and/or sector organisations. International cooperation may also be possible by involving CPVO/UPOV or fellow examination offices.
There is a large range of tools in the program available, such as:
Policy elements:
Technical elements:
Elements related to society: