High-Level Study visit on Plant Variety Protection and UPOV 1991

The High-Level Study Visit will consist of a half day seminar focusing on the benefits of membership in the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV 1991), the advantages of the EU Community Plant Variety Rights (CPVR) system under the UPOV 1991 Act, and the experience of Viet Nam as a UPOV 1991 member, and visits to various sites.  High-level and senior officials responsible for plant variety protection in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Viet Nam will participate in the Study Visit.  The activity will include visits to GEVES, a French Testing Authority, and Limagrain, a cooperative group of French farmers and plant breeders; to vegetables and ornamentals breeding companies in the Netherlands, and the Dutch Plant Variety Protection Office; and finally, meetings in Brussels with representatives of DG Trade, CPVO, Copa-Cogeca, and UPOV.  The interaction and discussions between the high-level officials and farmers and plant breeders are expected to improve the understanding of the national authorities from the participating countries of the benefits UPOV 1991 and strong plant variety protection systems to agricultural and rural development and food security.  The Study Visit is expected to contribute to raising the awareness of national authorities responsible for plant variety protection and UPOV 1991 accession on the benefits of membership to the agreement. The discussions will also be used as inputs for potential activities on plant variety protection and UPOV 1991 accession in the Southeast Asian countries.