The role of plant breeders’ rights in an evolving peach and nectarine fresh fruit sector

摘要

There is a general consensus that technical innovation can aid in solving diverse challenges facing the agriculturesector. According to Nhemachena et al. 1 , integrated innovations in areas such as seeds, biotechnology, cropprotection, grain storage and transport are critical in improving global agricultural productivity. Seed development,in particular, has been hailed as one area of great importance as the seed contains the genetic code which sets thepotential frontline of the production quantity and quality of an agricultural industry. 2 As seed or cultivar developmentalso plays a pivotal role in ensuring global economic development 3 , it is necessary to promote the exchange ofsuch technologies across country borders because such innovations require substantial investments over longtime periods (10 to 15 years 1 ) to yield returns. The development of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) for plantvarieties, such as plant breeders’ rights (PBRs), has been instrumental in providing a secure business environmentwhich allows breeders to achieve recognition for their efforts and receive compensation for their investments, whilepromoting the exchange of plant material.