b'30 YEARS OF SAFEGUARDING INNOVATION IN A CHANGING WORLDWHY THE CPVO MATTERS NOW MORE THAN EVER.BY: MARCEL BRUINSA PILLAR OF AGRICULTURAL WHY IT MATTERS ADVANCEMENTAs globalThe CPVO administers the Community Plant agriculture facesVariety Rights (CPVR) system, which grants exclu-the convergingsive rights to breeders for the commercialization of pressures of climatenew plant varieties within the EU. This protection change, resourceincentivizes the development of improved plant vari-scarcity, shiftingeties, contributing to food security, environmental geopolitics, andsustainability, and economic growth.evolving consumerOver the past three decades, the CPVO has demands, the needbecome much more than an intellectual property for resilient, high- registry. It has quietly, but decisively, underpinned performing plantEuropes capacity to adapt, innovate, and lead in plant varieties has neverbreeding. Today, as the EU navigates its environmen-been more urgent.tal ambitions, a fragile global supply chain, and the In the Europeanchallenge of boosting productivity sustainably, the Union, whereCPVOs role takes on new weight. strategic autonomyTo address the current challenges, the CPVOFrancesco Mattina, President of the Community Plant in food productionis exploring innovative tools to enhance the OfficeVariety Office.is gainingoverall efficiency. In particular, the use of artificial prominence, theintelligence and large language models (LLMs) offers breeding sectorpromising opportunities to streamline workflows,Over 70,000 Community Plant Variety Rights stands at a criticalimprove user support, assist with document process- granted since 1995junctureand theing and classification, and extract insights from tech-More than 33,000 titles currently in forceCommunity Plantnical and legal data. By integrating such technologies,Applications received from 71 countries, rein-Variety Officethe CPVO can modernize its operations, reinforceforcing its global credibility(CPVO) remainstrust in the IP system, and make the protection of 3268 applications in 2024 alonedespite one of its most vitalplant innovation more accessible, cost-effective, andbroader economic uncertaintyinstitutions as a keyresponsive to the needs of a fast-evolving breedingThis means that per day, almost nine new plant driver to supportsector. CPVO is also leading strategic discussionsvarieties become protected. Crop-specific data from the breeding sectorwith its network of Examination Offices to try and2024 shows where innovation is most active:and promote theimprove cost effectiveness of the system. Ornamentals: 1,130 applications (34,6%)innovation thatBeyond its core technical mandate of processing Agricultural crops: 1132 applications (34,6%)farmers need. applications and ensuring the quality of DUS test-Vegetables: 742 applications (222,9%)ing in partnership with its network of Examination Fruit crops: 258 applications (7,9%)Offices in the Member States, the CPVO plays aThe consistent flow of applications, especially broader strategic role by strengthening the credibil- from major breeding hubs like the Netherlands, ity and perceived value of the CPVR system amongFrance, and Germany, reflects the CPVOs enduring plant breeders. This involves not only maintainingrelevance and user trusteven as the regulatory high standards in the examination and granting ofenvironment grows more complex.rights, but also actively promoting awareness, legal certainty, and enforceability of CPVRs. By doing so,ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC the CPVO contributes to building a climate of trustVALUE: THE HIDDEN DIVIDENDin the intellectual property framework, encouragingRecent EU-wide analysesincluding a landmark breedersparticularly small and medium-sizedjoint study by the CPVO and the EUIPO 1 show enterprisesto invest in developing new, improvedthat the CPVR system delivers outsized environmen-plant varieties under the assurance that their innova- tal and economic benefits:tions will be fairly protected and commercially viable62 million tons of avoided greenhouse gas within the EU and beyond. emissions per year 14 billion cubic meters of water saved annuallyTHE NUMBERS BEHIND THE NARRATIVE6.4% increase in production for arable crops While many in the seed sector are well-acquaintedattributable to CPVR-backed innovationwith the CPVR system, recent statistics highlight the15.1% uplift in ornamental crop output thanks scale and endurance of the CPVOs impact: to protected varieties26ISEED WORLD EUROPEISEEDWORLD.COM/EUROPE | SEPTEMBER 2025'