The importance of PVP on the seed sector development in Asia

 

Seed industry plays a crucial role in producing adequate quantities of safe and quality food currently and for 9 billion people by 2050. Global seed sector is growing at a CAGR of 9.4% and is expected to touch US$92 billion by 2020. Like any other industries, seed sector also needs innovations to remain efficient, sustainable and profitable. 

 

PVP for fair and equitable sharing of benefits across food value chain

“Plant Variety Protection” (PVP) is one of the essential tools to ensure the seed sector continues to contribute to the food and nutritional security of Asia and the world. As well-documented globally, PVP (usually 20 years for most crops) fosters healthy competition and helps the sector cater to the continuously-evolving needs of the farmers (driven by the dietary preferences of consumers) including agronomic traits, resistance to pests and diseases, nutrition enhancement, etc. PVP secures the rights of the breeders and organizations that invest, which ensures the seed sector keeps innovating to bring out novel and sustainable solutions i.e. new varieties. For example, since its introduction in 2000, France’s Ogura technology in oil seed rape created EUR 1 billion benefitting both farmers and consumers. So, PVP is vital to ensure benefits are shared equitably and justifiably from farm to fork, which is the rationale behind the ABS (Access and Benefit Sharing) framework of UPOV.

Attracting investments in seed sector

PVP is a powerful tool to protect and incentivize innovations in development of plant varieties by creating an enabling and conducive IP environment. Curbing infringements not only creates a level playing field but strengthens the stakeholders’ trust and will help attract investments. Vietnam witnessed a whopping 800 percent surge in R&D investments in plant breeding and US$ 5 billion to its GDP apart from job creation and upskilling. This can be emulated in other Asian countries too. Asia’s has the potential to lead seed sector innovations globally, but it will be impossible without an effective PVP framework.

National & regional perspectives

A predictable, science-based policy and regulatory environment for IP protection supported by strong on-ground enforcement capabilities is a prerequisite for the growth of Asia’s seed sector. Firstly, the nations need to establish a strong IP protection framework based on global best practices (UPOV 91). This will not only boost their image and reputation but also enable access to foreign varieties ultimately enhancing their global competitiveness. PVP transformed Kenya’s floriculture sector by enabling introduction of elite foreign varieties of roses and ornamental species. Subsequently, exports surged; and the sector emerged one of the biggest contributors to the economy, earning USD 823 million in 2017.  

 

Regional alignment is the next logical step to curtail IP infringements by sharing of resources, critical information, and knowledge on application of advanced forensic techniques like molecular fingerprinting and DUS testing. 

Capacity building in developing and least developed countries is critical to prevent exploitation of their relatively weaker regulatory frameworks by unscrupulous elements, which affects the entire industry. Similarly, several Asian countries adopted sui-generis system wherein farmers’ rights are misunderstood sometimes, which needs to be addressed as well on priority.

Further, the confusion around ‘Farm Saved Seeds’ must not thwart the progress towards accession to UPOV and alignment of the nations as a balanced approach is required to protect the rights of both farmers and the breeders. 

Securing seed sector’s License to Operate

In this era of social media, no industry is immune to negative publicity as policy makers get armtwisted by anti-industry forces. Learnings from other sectors (e.g. agrochemicals) suggest greater collaboration among food-chain stakeholders to bust the myths spread by groups with vested interests and questionable credentials. Those who question the ethical/moral dimensions of IP protection particularly in seeds, must remember that without such protection, there would be no incentive whatsoever to innovate. Hence, to proactively prevent anti-industry forces from distorting the facts, the industry must enhance its outreach & stakeholder engagement to ensure consumers and policy makers appreciate the positive socio-economic impacts of IP protection.

Unlike previous generations, the world is currently facing enormous challenges such as falling crop productivity, water scarcity, land degradation and climate change. Without appropriate IP protection frameworks, innovations to address these challenges cannot emerge and hundreds of millions will plunge deep into abject poverty and malnutrition especially, in Asia. Hence, it is paramount to ensure innovations in agriculture especially seed sector, are nurtured and protected through tools like PVP.