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

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

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 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 submissions268 –Foreign submissions310 –Agricultural crops250 –Ornamental crops285 –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