Unit IV
Commercial Plant Breeding & Seed Industry
Contents
IPR issues in commercial plant breeding: DUS testing and registration of varieties under PPV&FR Act. Variety testing, release and notification systems in India.
IPR Issues in Commercial Plant Breeding
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) play a crucial role in protecting the interests of plant breeders and seed companies. In the context of commercial plant breeding and the seed industry, IPR is essential for safeguarding the investment in research and development and promoting innovation. Here are the key IPR issues in commercial plant breeding:
1. Patenting of Biotechnological Innovations: Advances in biotechnology have led to the development of genetically modified crops. Patenting such innovations can give companies exclusive control over specific genes or genetic modifications, potentially restricting access to genetic resources.
2. Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS): The commercial utilization of genetic resources from developing countries has raised concerns about equitable sharing of benefits with the communities providing those resources.
3. Farmer's Rights: Balancing IPR protection with the rights of farmers to save, exchange, and sell seeds is a challenge. Some argue that IPR can restrict farmers' traditional practices of seed-saving and seed-sharing.
4. Ethical Concerns: There are ethical debates regarding the patenting of life forms and the potential implications on food security, biodiversity, and socio-economic aspects.
5. Access to Genetic Resources: IPR may limit access to genetic resources, especially for small-scale farmers or researchers in developing countries, potentially hindering the development of region-specific cultivars.
6. Biopiracy Concerns: There have been concerns over biopiracy, where indigenous knowledge and traditional plant varieties are exploited for commercial gain without equitable sharing of benefits with the communities of origin.
7. Seed Price Increase: IPR-protected seeds often come with higher costs due to the fees associated with licensing agreements, which can impact farmers' affordability and access to improved varieties.
8. Licensing and Royalties: Licensing agreements and royalty payments for the use of patented technologies or traits can increase the cost of seeds for farmers. This may disproportionately affect resource-poor farmers and limit the adoption of improved varieties.
Importance of IPR in Commercial Plant Breeding:
1. Encouraging Innovation: IPR protection encourages plant breeders and seed companies to invest in research and development to create new and improved varieties with desirable traits.
2. Investment Protection: IPR safeguards the significant investments made by breeders in developing and commercializing new cultivars, ensuring fair returns on their efforts.
3. Technology Transfer: Licensing agreements and patent protection facilitate technology transfer, allowing smaller companies or farmers to access and utilize advanced breeding technologies.
4. Quality Control: IPR promotes quality control in seed production and distribution, ensuring that farmers receive genuine and high-quality seeds.
IPR issues in commercial plant breeding are crucial for balancing the interests of breeders, seed companies, and farmers. While IPR protection encourages innovation and investment in the seed industry, there is an ongoing need to address challenges related to access to genetic resources, biopiracy, and seed affordability. Striking the right balance in IPR policies is essential to promote sustainable agricultural practices, ensure food security, and foster collaboration among stakeholders in the plant breeding and seed industry.
DUS Testing
DUS stands for Distinctiveness, Uniformity, and Stability. DUS testing is a crucial step in the registration of plant varieties under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights (PPV&FR) Act. It involves evaluating a candidate variety to ensure that it is distinct from other existing varieties, shows uniform characteristics within itself, and maintains stability across generations. DUS testing helps prevent the unauthorized commercialization of existing varieties under the guise of a new name.
Here's a breakdown of each aspect of DUS testing:
1. Distinctness: This refers to the unique and distinguishable characteristics of the new plant variety compared to existing varieties. DUS testing involves comparing various traits such as plant morphology, leaf shape, flower structure, fruit characteristics, growth habits, and other observable features. If the new variety can be clearly differentiated from known varieties based on these traits, it is considered distinct.
2. Uniformity: Uniformity pertains to the consistent expression of characteristics within the new plant variety. During DUS testing, multiple individuals of the same variety are examined to ensure that they display similar traits. A high level of uniformity indicates that the variety is stable and predictable in its characteristics.
3. Stability: Stability refers to the ability of the new variety to maintain its distinct characteristics over successive generations of propagation. If the variety consistently reproduces its unique traits, it is considered stable. This ensures that the variety's qualities remain consistent and unchanged over time.
Aspects to know about DUS testing:
Plant Variety Protection: DUS testing is a key requirement for obtaining plant variety protection (PVP) or plant breeders' rights (PBR) for a new plant variety. PVP/PBR grants breeders exclusive rights to market and sell their new variety for a certain period, promoting innovation in plant breeding.
International Standards: DUS testing follows internationally recognized guidelines and standards set by organizations such as the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). These guidelines ensure consistency and comparability of testing results worldwide.
Testing Procedures: DUS testing involves rigorous evaluation of various morphological, physiological, and reproductive characteristics of the plant. Traits examined include plant height, leaf shape, flower color, fruit size, disease resistance, and more. Testing is typically conducted under controlled conditions.
Plant Samples: For DUS testing, a representative number of plants from the candidate variety are grown and evaluated. This sample must adequately represent the range of variation within the variety.
Comparison with Reference Varieties: During DUS testing, the candidate variety is compared with reference varieties, which are existing varieties with known characteristics. This comparison helps establish distinctness and identifies differences between the candidate and reference varieties.
Authorised agencies or organisations: DUS testing is typically carried out by authorized agencies or organizations that specialize in plant variety testing. The results of DUS testing, along with other relevant data, are submitted as part of the application for plant variety protection
The DUS testing process ensures that the new variety meets the criteria of being distinct, uniform, and stable. The goal is to provide breeders with legal protection for their innovative plant varieties and to help consumers identify and purchase plants with the expected characteristics. The testing process may vary slightly depending on the type of plant and the specific requirements of the regulatory authority overseeing plant variety protection.
Registration of Varieties under PPV&FR Act
The "Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act" (PPV&FR Act) is an Indian legislation enacted on October 30, 2001 to provide legal protection to plant breeders and farmers in relation to plant varieties. The act was established to encourage innovation in plant breeding, protect the rights of plant breeders, and ensure fair compensation to farmers.
Here's an overview of the process for registering varieties under the PPV&FR Act:
1. Application Submission: The first step is to submit an application for registration of the plant variety to the Registrar of Plant Varieties. The application should include relevant information about the variety, its characteristics, and the breeder's details.
2. Examination: The application is examined by the Plant Varieties Registry to determine whether it meets the requirements for registration. This includes checking whether the variety is novel, distinct, uniform, and stable (DUS), as well as whether the breeder has the right to apply for registration.
3. Distinctness, Uniformity, and Stability (DUS) Testing: If the application meets the preliminary requirements, DUS testing is conducted to assess the distinctness, uniformity, and stability of the variety. Trained experts evaluate the candidate variety against reference varieties to ensure its uniqueness and other characteristics.
4. Publication and Objection: After successful DUS testing, the application is published in the Plant Varieties Journal. This allows interested parties to review the application and raise objections if they believe the variety doesn't meet the criteria or if the breeder's rights are in question.
5. Objection Hearing: If objections are raised, a hearing may be held to address the concerns. The Registrar considers the objections, evidence, and arguments from both the applicant and the objectors.
6. Registration: If the application passes the examination, DUS testing, and objection stages, the variety is registered under the PPV&FR Act. A certificate of registration is issued to the breeder, granting them exclusive rights to market, produce, and sell the registered variety for a specified period.
7. Rights Granted: Upon registration, the breeder obtains exclusive rights to use, sell, market, and produce the registered variety. These rights can be enforced against any unauthorized use of the variety.
8. Duration of Protection: The duration of protection varies depending on the type of plant variety:
- For trees and vines: 18 years from the date of registration.
- For other varieties: 15 years from the date of registration.
9. Farmers' Rights: The PPV&FR Act also recognizes and protects the rights of farmers who have conserved and developed traditional plant varieties. It aims to ensure that farmers' contributions to plant diversity are acknowledged and protected.
The registration of plant varieties under the PPV&FR Act encourages innovation in plant breeding and provides incentives for breeders to develop new and improved varieties. It also helps maintain biodiversity, protect farmers' rights, and promote sustainable agriculture.
Benefits of Registration:
- Protection of Breeder's Rights: Registration offers legal protection to the breeder's investment in developing the new variety, ensuring that others cannot commercialize it without permission.
- Incentive for Innovation: By granting exclusive rights, registration encourages plant breeders and seed companies to invest in research and development to create new and improved varieties.
- Quality Assurance: Registered varieties undergo rigorous evaluation, providing farmers with the assurance of receiving genuine and high-quality seeds.
Variety testing, release and notification systems in India
In India, agricultural productivity and food security heavily rely on the development and adoption of improved crop varieties. To ensure that farmers have access to high-yielding and resilient cultivars, the government has established a comprehensive variety testing, release, and notification system. This system is designed to evaluate, approve, and notify promising crop varieties for commercial cultivation.
1. Variety Testing: Variety testing is a crucial step in the process of releasing new crop varieties. It involves rigorous evaluation of candidate varieties under various agro-climatic conditions to assess their performance, adaptability, and stability.
a) Multilocation Trials: Candidate varieties are grown in multiple locations across different agro-climatic zones to observe their performance under diverse environmental conditions.
b) Comparative Evaluation: Varieties are compared with popular local and national check varieties to determine their superiority in terms of yield potential, disease resistance, and other desirable traits.
2. Variety Release: After successful completion of variety testing, the promising varieties are recommended for release. This stage involves the official approval of the variety for commercial cultivation.
a) Variety Release Committees: Expert committees comprising scientists, agronomists, and agricultural experts review the trial results and recommend varieties for release.
Central Variety Release Committee (CVRC): The CVRC oversees the release of national-level varieties and coordinates with state-level committees.
State Variety Release Committees: Each state has its own committee responsible for approving and notifying varieties suitable for cultivation within the state.
b) Regional Suitability: Varieties are released based on their suitability for specific regions, taking into account factors like climate, soil type, and pest prevalence.
3. Notification Systems: Once a variety is released, it is notified to the concerned authorities, seed agencies, and the public through formal channels.
Seed Certification Agencies: After notification, seed certification agencies verify the quality and genetic purity of the seed to ensure that farmers receive genuine and high-quality seeds.
Official Notification: Once a variety is recommended for release by the Central Variety Release Committee (CVRC) or State Variety Release Committees (SVRCs), it is officially notified by the respective state governments or central authorities.
Contents of Notification: The notification includes detailed information about the released variety. This information is crucial for farmers, researchers, and other stakeholders to understand the variety's characteristics and agronomic practices.
Variety Characteristics:The notification specifies the name of the variety, along with details about its appearance, growth habits, yield potential, and any unique features.
Agronomic Practices:Information on recommended cultivation practices, including planting methods, fertilization, irrigation, pest management, and harvesting techniques, is provided.
Geographical Suitability:The notification indicates the regions or agro-climatic zones where the variety is most suitable for cultivation. This helps farmers make informed decisions about which varieties to cultivate in their specific locations.
Cataloging: Information about released varieties is cataloged in the National Register of Plant Varieties (NRPV).
Benefits of the System:
- Enhanced Productivity: The systematic evaluation and release of improved varieties lead to increased agricultural productivity and better farm incomes.
- Adaptability: Varieties are selected based on their adaptability to different agro-climatic zones, ensuring that farmers have access to suitable cultivars for their specific regions.
- Resilience: The release of disease-resistant and stress-tolerant varieties helps farmers cope with biotic and abiotic challenges.
- Marketability: Notified varieties undergo quality testing and certification, instilling confidence in farmers and seed buyers regarding their authenticity and performance.
The variety testing, release, and notification system in India play a vital role in fostering agricultural development, ensuring food security, and promoting sustainable farming practices. By systematically evaluating and releasing high-performing varieties, the system empowers farmers with improved cultivars that can withstand environmental challenges and contribute to the overall growth of the agricultural sector in the country.
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