USDA announces Plant Variety Protection Board appointments

On January 08, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the appointment of 14 members to serve on the Plant Variety Protection Board. The newly appointed members will serve two-year terms.

Newly appointed members are:

    Farmer Representation

• James Davis, Ferriday, Louisiana

    Private or Industry Representation

• Megan Bowman, West Chicago, Illinois

  
  

• Barry Nelson, Johnston, Iowa

  
  

• Melissa Boersema, Johannesburg, Michigan

  
  

• Marymar Butruille, Chesterfield, Missouri

  
  

• Eloy Corona, Apex, North Carolina

  
  

• Barbara Campbell, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

  
  

• Bishwajit Prasad, Alvin, Texas

  
  

• Michelle Bos, Granger, Washington

    Public or Government Representation

• Jenny Koebernick, Auburn, Alabama

  
  

• Brian Suh, Riverside, California

  
  

• Matthew Mattia, Fort Pierce, Florida

  
  

• Felicia Jefferson, Reno, Nevada

  
  

• Jeremy Tamsen, Pullman, Washington

The Plant Variety Protection Act provides legal protection in the form of intellectual property rights to developers of new varieties of plants and calls for a Plant Variety Protection Board. The board is made up of 14 members representing farmers, the seed industry, trade and professional associations, and public and private institutions involved with developing new plant varieties. Members of the board provide oversight and guidance to the program on plant variety protection issues.

AMS policy is that diversity of the boards, councils and committees it oversees should reflect the diversity of its industries in terms of the experience of members, methods of production and distribution, marketing strategies, and other distinguishing factors, including but not limited to individuals from historically underserved communities, who will bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. Throughout the full nomination process, the industry must conduct extensive outreach, paying particular attention to reaching underserved communities, and consider the diversity of the population served and the knowledge, skills and abilities of the members to serve a diverse population.