EXPERIENCES IN PLANT VARIETY UNDER THE UPOV CONVENTION

Evans Sikinyi

Plant Variety Rights Office

Nairobi, Kenya

Contents

• UPOV study on the impact of Plant Breeders’ Rights in 5 selected countries

• Experiences in Kenya

Contents

• UPOV study on the impact of Plant Breeders’ Rights

• Experiences in Kenya

Ad hoc Working Group

• Established October 2001 by Consultative Committee

• Ad hoc Working Group to Study the Impact of Plant Breeders’ Rights

• Purpose: Conduct an empirical analysis of the impact of the introduction of PVP on plant breeding

Method

• To be based on empirical analysis

• Participating countries– Argentina– China– Kenya– Poland– Republic of Korea

Data collection

• Inputs in plant breeding– Parameter 1: Number of breeding entities– Parameter 2: Investment for plant breeding

• Development of new varieties– Parameter 3: Number of released varieties– Parameter 4: Improvement of released varieties

• Over period 1990 - 2001

Results

• Interesting data collected - not conclusive yet, gradual process of building up the case

• Parameter 1 and 3 almost completed

• Extend period of registration

• Parameter 2 and 4 through in depth study

• Draft of final report October 2004

Parameter 1: Number of breeding entities

Parameter 2: Investment for plant breeding

Parameter 3: Number of released varieties

Parameter 4: Improvement of released varieties

Contents

• UPOV study on the impact of Plant Breeders’ Rights in 5 selected countries

• Experiences in Kenya

Experiences in Kenya

• History– PVP Office established in 1997– Kenya acceded to 1978 Act of UPOV

Convention in 1999

• Reasons why to introduce PVP– Incentive to breeders– Access to new genetic material– Enhance number of improved varieties

Impact study in Kenya

• In context of UPOV study group: investigation on the rationale for introducing PVP– Interviews with breeders in 7 public

and 9 private institutions– Collection of records of PVP applications

Effects of introducing PVP (1)

• Increased investments in private institutions– Physical facilities (laboratory, seed processing)– Technology (ICT, markers)– Land acreage

• Decreased land acreage and financial allocation in public institutions

Effects of introducing PVP (2)

• Increased collaboration between local and foreign institutions– Capacity building– Donor funding– Germplasm exchange– Commercialisation of foreign varieties

Variety releases 1998 - 2003

• 81 New varieties of maize (29), wheat, sugar cane, tomato, rose and limonium– Locally bred: 56– Bred abroad: 17– Collaboration local and abroad: 8

• Still in DUS and VCU trials• Improvements in yield, drought tolerance

early maturity, pest and disease resistance

Applications for PBRs

• Total number of applications: 578– Local submissions 268– Foreign submissions 310

– Agricultural crops 250– Ornamental crops 285– Vegetables 38– Fruit 5

Influences of introduction PVP

– Breeding industry is harmonised– Conflict prevention and problem solution– Security in ownership– Increased interest in commercial breeding– Enhanced introduction of and access to foreign

varieties– Increased competition from local and foreign

breeders– Farmers grow better varieties

Conclusion

• Initial goals sets at the time of introduction of PVP in Kenya have been achieved

• Asante sana na kwa heri