A forum for the plant breeding sector in late July has been hailed a success for delivering the latest innovation in breeding techniques and advice on managing intellectual property rights.
The inaugural forum was organised by the New Zealand Plant Breeding and Research Association (NZPBRA) and attended by 65 industry professionals.
Post-forum feedback showed support for it to become an annual event, said NZPBRA president John Caradus.
“The first forum was a great opportunity for dialogue between breeders, farmers, and regulators to explore how new technologies and initiatives to protect intellectual property rights can deliver opportunities for the wider primary sector,” he said.
“The forum will have helped contribute to a wider understanding of the general operating environment and the importance of plant breeding to the primary sector in New Zealand.”
Based on the positive feedback from many of those who attended, Caradus said the NZPBRA intends making it an annual event to continue the collaboration between stakeholders within the plant breeding sector.
One of the inaugural forum highlights was an address from United States forage and pasture plant breeder Professor Joe Bouton, from the University of Georgia, who presented a fascinating history of plant breeding, genetics and its impact on agricultural productivity.
Bouton said the complexity and success of most field breeding projects is often undervalued. In spite of the promise and positive impact of new breeding techniques now available, the role of traditional phenotypic-genotypic selection in forage and pasture crops has not diminished.
Another speaker, Professor of Plant Biology at University of Canterbury Paula Jameson, explained the opportunities resulting from faster and more targeted gene editing and genetic modification over conventional breeding methods.
Caradus said her insights were timely given the government’s 40-point action plan for the next quarter, which includes a commitment to progress new regulations to improve the process for testing genetically modified plants and enable the safe use of gene technologies in agriculture, health science and other sectors.
Forum delegates also heard an update from Intellectual Property Office New Zealand national manager Robert Garrett on the policy and regulatory developments with the Plant Variety Rights Act (PVR Act), which has been in place for the past 18 months.
NZPBRA general manager Thomas Chin moderated a panel discussion on the new, voluntary arrangements for the collection of royalties from farmers who save and reuse seed protected under the new PVR Act. The panellists included an arable farmer, as well as seed company and plant breeder representatives.
Zespri executive Heidi Jade shared her experience and insights on the enforcement of PVRs, regarded as a key pillar in protecting plant innovation.
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