Balancing tradition and innovation remains the key challenge in building a sustainable breeding ecosystem.
Canada’s top plant breeders’ rights official is stepping onto the global stage — and he’s bringing a clear message about innovation with him to the new episode of the Seed World Canada podcast.
Anthony Parker, commissioner of Canada’s Plant Breeders’ Rights Office, has been named the new president of UPOV, the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants. For Parker, the role is both a personal milestone and a chance to reinforce the importance of intellectual property in agriculture at a time of rapid technological change.
UPOV’s core mission — promoting plant variety protection — remains central to driving investment, competition and food security, Parker says. But its longevity comes from its ability to evolve alongside science. From genetic modification to gene editing, the organization continually updates its frameworks to reflect new realities while maintaining incentives for innovation.
That adaptability is already showing results in Canada. Strengthened plant breeders’ rights and policy changes, such as accepting foreign data, have helped unlock significant growth in sectors like greenhouse vegetables, where applications for new varieties have surged dramatically.
Still, challenges remain. One of the biggest is balancing long-standing farm practices, like saving seed, with the need to ensure breeders are fairly compensated. Parker emphasizes that sustainable innovation depends on shifting mindsets and building systems that reward investment from both public and private sectors.
Change, however, can’t be rushed. Parker stresses that meaningful progress requires collaboration across producers, breeders and policymakers — and the patience to get it right.
In the end, the future of agricultural innovation won’t be shaped by science alone, but by the policies, incentives and shared understanding that support it.
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