EXPERIENCES IN PLANT VARIETY UNDER THE UPOV CONVENTION

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 – Foreign submissions 268 310 – Agricultural crops – Ornamental crops – Vegetables – Fruit 250 285 38 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