b'In addition to these quantifiable outcomes, wages in sectorsin China, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, thereby promoting like arable farming and horticulture are significantly higher the alignment of plant variety protection systems with UPOV 1991 12.6% and 11% respectivelycompared to scenarios withoutstandards and facilitating international market access for European CPVR protections.breeders.Moreover, according to the same study, most of the applicantsMoreover, a recently adopted horizon scanning strategy will are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which account foralso provide CPVO with business intelligence essential to prepare over 90% of CPVR holders holding 60% of titles in force. This high- and adapt CPVOs policies and decisions to changes in business lights the fundamental role of the CPVO in supporting innovation,models that may have an influence in IPR strategies of breeding competitiveness, and market access for SME breeding companies,companies in the different sectors.promoting wider competition and strengthening resilience of the breeding sector. THE TAKEHOME MESSAGEThis translates not only to profitability for breeders and seedThe seed sector doesnt stand stilland neither should its support companies but to healthier rural economies and more attractivesystems. As the EU leans into green transformation, technological career prospects in agriculture. sovereignty, and food security, the CPVO emerges as more than a gatekeeper for variety rights: its a quiet engine of progress. It MORE THAN A REGISTRY: A STRATEGIC ENABLER enables the development of varieties that are not only more resilient In times of disruption, institutions that provide continuity, clarity,and productive but also more aligned with the environmental and and credibility become indispensable. The CPVO does exactly that.ethical expectations of todays agriculture.It offers: Breeders may not always see the CPVOs impact in their day- A harmonized, efficient pathway for breeders to protect inno- to-day work. But take it away, and the entire ecosysteminnova-vation across all 27 EU Member States, acting with scientific rigortion cycles, investment flows, sustainability effortswill become and neutrality in evaluating distinctness, uniformity, and stabilityvulnerable. The CPVO doesnt just protect varieties. It protects the (DUS) criteria.future of European plant breeding.Harmonization efforts have been substantively intensified atIn a time when agriculture must evolve rapidly, the CPVO the European level. These efforts have promoted structured col- ensures that innovation can be legally protected, economically laboration and mutual learning among the national Examinationviable, and strategically supported. Thats not bureaucracythats Offices, under the coordination of the CPVO. A key driver of thisvision.process has been the implementation of the Quality Audit System (QAS), which provides a common framework for monitoring, assessing, and continuously improving the quality of technical examinations. By setting shared benchmarks and facilitating peer reviews and technical meetings, the QAS has contributed to a more consistent and transparent interpretation of DUS standards, thereby increasing the reliability and credibility of examination results. As a result, plant breeders benefit from a more predictable and uni-form decision-making environment, while the overall system moves towards greater efficiency and legal certainty in the granting of CPVRsMoreover, under its R&D strategy, the CPVO has strategically invested resources to improve the quality, efficiency, and scientific robustness of DUS testing. This includes the development of cen-tralized and interoperable databases in close collaboration with Examination Offices, enabling enhanced data sharing and compa-rability of variety descriptions across countries. Such initiatives sup-port the progressive introduction of advanced testing toolssuch as molecular markers and image analysisaimed at reinforcing the objectivity and reproducibility of examinations. Collectively, these actions strengthen the global positioning of the European system and its capacity to respond to the evolving demands of innovation, trade, and food security. A foundation for private R&D investment, ensuring that EU breeders can compete globallyespecially against larger, consol-idated markets.Its collaborative relationship with international partners and adherence to UPOV standards position the CPVO as a strategic link between European breeders and the global seed economy. This role is exemplified by its active cooperation with non-EU Examination Offices in countries such as Japan or Mexico, among others, ena-bling mutual recognition of technical expertise and facilitating knowledge exchange on DUS testing methodologies. In addition,At the CPVO seminar marking its 30th anniversary, Mattina explained that the CPVO has provided technical support and guidance in themost of the applicants are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which implementation of EU-funded cooperation projects such as IP Keyaccount for over 90% of CPVR holders holding 60% of titles in force.1 https://cpvo.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/cpvr_study_full_report_0.pdfSEPTEMBER 2025|SEEDWORLD.COM/EUROPEISEED WORLD EUROPE I 27'