b"Every year, certified seed is produced on over two million hectares in the EU. France, Spain and Germany are the lead producers. The value of the EU seed market (field crops and vegetable seed) is estimated at between 7 and 8 billion. The EU is the largest seed exporter worldwide. European exports to the rest of the world reached 7.8 billion in 2017 (+10%), with a trade surplus of 2.2 billion.Innovation in plant breeding is incentivised under the EU's Community Plant Variety Rights regime. This was set up to grant intellectual protection for the creation of new plant varie-ties that could benefit society. The regime has been run by the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) since 1995. Currently around 27,300 plant variety rights are registered for over 2,000 different plant species (44% ornamentals, 29% agricultural crops, 18% vegetables and 9% fruit plants).Since the 1990s, the EU has had a legal framework in place to ensure that development of modern biotechnology and genet-ically modified organisms (GMOs) takes place under safe con-ditions. The legal framework aims to protect human and animal health and the environment by requiring an authorisation and stringent safety assessment before any GMO is released into the environment. The GMO legal framework also ensures consumers and operators are informed thanks to the traceability require-ments and labelling of GMOs and their food and feed products placed on the market.Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the back-bone of Europe's economy, particularly in the agri-food sector. In the seed sector, thanks to the legislation in place, a high number of SMEs are active in the EU compared to many other developed countries. However, certain mergers in the seed industry have led to concerns about market concentration and its potential effects on prices, product choice, and innovation. A recent OECD study analyses the situation and shows how policy makers have several levers besides competition policy to ensure an innovative and competitive seed industry. The European Commission considers SMEs and entrepreneurshipVytenis Andriukaitis as essential for economic growth, innovation, job creation, and social integration in the EU. This is also the case for the UN Food and Agricultureavoided. Through plant breeding and higher yields of major Organisation (FAO). It sees small and medium enterprisesarable crops, Europe has also been able to prevent biodiversity (SMEs) as essential partners to achieve key sustainable develop- loss. Without it, an additional 19 million hectares would have ment goals and has called for support for innovation in this area.been needed as farmland in the last 15 years.Plant breeding also has advantages for consumers, increas-The importance of plant breeding ing diversity and variety to suit a range of eating habits. A study published in 2016 by HFFA on The economic, socialWhile the private sector plays an important role, the pub-and environmental value of plant breeding in the EU stressedlic-private partnerships and public sector can also promote R&D its economic importance. It shows that the EU's plant breedinginitiatives aimed at more sustainable and resilient food production. activities in the last 15 years have resulted in numerous benefits for the economy, the environment and society.Innovation in plant breeding This includes a 74% increase in total productivity (equalPlant breeding is essential to meet new challenges and cater to a yield increases of 1.24% per year) and over 14 billion tofor changing needs. For plant breeding in the EU to continue the EUs GDP since 2000. Plant breeding has also ensured theand remain internationally competitive, innovative technologies availability of carbohydrates, proteins and vegetable oils to feedand approaches should be promoted and broadly accessible. This between 100 and 200 million people.includes - importantlymaking it accessible to small private and At the same time, it helps to reduce greenhouse gas emis- public organisations. At the same time, the EUs famously high sionsabout 3.4 billion tons of direct CO2 emissions have beenlevel of safety must continue to be guaranteed.EUROPEAN-SEED.COMIEUROPEAN SEED I 11"