The Australian grains sector is striving to reach $100bn farmgate value by 2030. To achieve this target, Australia needs a strong plant breeding sector which will in turn benefit grain growers.
GrainGrowers has responded to the proposed changes to the Explanatory Notes on Essentially Derived Varieties under the UPOV Convention.
GrainGrowers is a voice for Australian grain farmers with grower members across Australia. Our vision is to build a more sustainable and profitable grains industry for the benefit of Australian grain farmers. GrainGrowers welcomes this opportunity to provide input on the proposed changes to the explanatory notes on essentially derived varieties (EDV) under the the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) Convention.
The Australian grains sector is fiercely competitive. It is a powerhouse of regional Australia with 22,000 farm businesses growing on average 45 million tonnes of grains, oilseeds and pulses each year for domestic and global customers. The Australian agricultural sector is striving to reach $100 billion farmgate value by 2030, up from a current value of $61 billion with the broader agribusiness supply chain striving to reach $300 billion. As one of Australia’s largest agricultural industries, the grains sector will be critical in reaching that ambitious goal.
To achieve this $100 billion target, Australia needs a strong plant breeding sector which will in turn benefit Australian grain growers. Improved genetic innovation and plant breeding serves growers in driving a more sustainable and profitable industry which is needed to continuously adapt to increasing climatic variability, ever changing consumer preferences and an increasingly volatile trade environment. To protect the intellectual property of plant breeders and future investment in plant breeding, GrainGrowers supports the proposed changes to the UPOV Convention’s explanatory notes on EDV.
It is imperative that plant genetics can be developed in an environment that rewards and fosters innovation. The seed and plant breeding industry is a vital link in the Australian grains value chain. Efforts to strengthen, foster innovation and protect seed and plant breeders would allow Australian grain growers better access to seed material suitable to their operating environment. It is in GrainGrowers’ view that the provision of greater incentives in plant breeding will lead to continued scientific and agronomic breakthroughs to be utilised by growers and the overall agricultural industry as we strive to keep pace with the ever-growing challenges and threats on the horizon.
As a core principle, those who breed, discover, and derive genetic material should be appropriately protected and retain ownership rights. It is GrainGrowers’ understanding that the proposed changes will:
- Provide more legal certainty for breeders and PBR owners, globally and in Australia
- provide a fair balance for both breeders and trait providers by giving breeders greater control over the derivative commercial use of their variety and proper compensation from the sale of predominantly derived varieties
- Not limit the Breeders Exemption as the breeder’s right does extend to EDVs and the breeder’s authorisation is required.
- Not confuse PBR with conformity (EDV) as the assessment of essential derivation is based on the conformity of the expressed characteristics resulting from the genome.
Growers recognise that research (both transformative and incremental) is required to drive profitability, and that research takes time and involves risks. The system and structures that supports those who undertake research should be fair, equitable and free from barriers. It is therefore GrainGrowers’ position to support the proposed changes to the explanatory notes.
Should you require any further information, please contact GrainGrowers’ General Manager for Policy and Advocacy, Zachary Whale on (02) 9286 2000 or zachary.whale@graingrowers.com.au.