The seed potato breeding company Interseed Potatoes GmbH of Wittmund, Germany, became the newest shareholder of Breeders Trust — an organization that supports its shareholders when it comes to monitoring and enforcement of the plant Breeders’ Rights and contract conditions.
“The development of new varieties is cost-intensive, and we consider the enforcement of the breeders’ rights a basic requirement for all breeders,” says Wilhelm Meyer, managing director. “Bundling of forces to respect and enforce breeders’ rights is therefore of crucial importance.
“Breeders Trust carries out awareness and enforcement activities internationally in a successful way and is a logical next step for us. Our core business is introducing our newest potato varieties all over the world and Breeders Trust helps us realize our international ambitions.”
The aim of Breeders Trust is to create in the whole potato sector awareness about the risks of using non-certified seed and to inform about the rights and duties while using protected seeds.
Breeders Trust is actively engaged that license fees are being paid for the further developing of new varieties and that trade and propagation takes place within the applicable rules and regulations. By doing so, Breeders Trust contributes to the continuity of the development of new varieties with better and more sustainable product qualifications in the benefit of the whole potato sector.
Geert Staring, general director of Breeders Trust, welcomes Interseed as a new shareholder with open arms. Enforcement of plant breeders’ rights is very costly and you need a long breath. Respecting plant breeders’ rights is a non-competitive issue and is of joint interest not only for the whole potato chain but even for society as a whole, Staring says.
