EXPERIENCES IN PLANT VARIETY UNDER THE UPOV CONVENTION

1. EXPERIENCES IN PLANT VARIETY UNDER THE UPOV CONVENTION Evans Sikinyi Plant Variety Rights Office Nairobi, Kenya

2. Contents • UPOV study on the impact of Plant Breeders’ Rights in 5 selected countries • Experiences in Kenya

3. Contents • UPOV study on the impact of Plant Breeders’ Rights • Experiences in Kenya

4. Ad hoc Working Group • Established October 2001 by Consultative Committee • Ad hoc Working Group to Study the Impact of Plant Breeders’ Rights • Purpose: Conduct an empirical analysis of the impact of the introduction of PVP on plant breeding

5. Method • To be based on empirical analysis • Participating countries • Argentina • China • Kenya • Poland • Republic of Korea

6. Data collection • Inputs in plant breeding • Parameter 1: Number of breeding entities • Parameter 2: Investment for plant breeding • Development of new varieties • Parameter 3: Number of released varieties • Parameter 4: Improvement of released varieties • Over period 1990 - 2001

7. Results • Interesting data collected - not conclusive yet, gradual process of building up the case • Parameter 1 and 3 almost completed • Extend period of registration • Parameter 2 and 4 through in depth study • Draft of final report October 2004 Parameter 1: Number of breeding entities Parameter 2: Investment for plant breeding Parameter 3: Number of released varieties Parameter 4: Improvement of released varieties

8. Contents • UPOV study on the impact of Plant Breeders’ Rights in 5 selected countries • Experiences in Kenya

9. Experiences in Kenya • History • PVP Office established in 1997 • Kenya acceded to 1978 Act of UPOV Convention in 1999 • Reasons why to introduce PVP • Incentive to breeders • Access to new genetic material • Enhance number of improved varieties

10. Impact study in Kenya • In context of UPOV study group: investigation on the rationale for introducing PVP • Interviews with breeders in 7 public and 9 private institutions • Collection of records of PVP applications

11. Effects of introducing PVP (1) • Increased investments in private institutions • Physical facilities (laboratory, seed processing) • Technology (ICT, markers) • Land acreage • Decreased land acreage and financial allocation in public institutions

12. Effects of introducing PVP (2) • Increased collaboration between local and foreign institutions • Capacity building • Donor funding • Germplasm exchange • Commercialisation of foreign varieties

13. Variety releases 1998 - 2003 • 81 New varieties of maize (29), wheat, sugar cane, tomato, rose and limonium • Locally bred: 56 • Bred abroad: 17 • Collaboration local and abroad: 8 • Still in DUS and VCU trials • Improvements in yield, drought tolerance early maturity, pest and disease resistance

14. Applications for PBRs • Total number of applications: 578 • Local submissions 268 • Foreign submissions 310 • Agricultural crops 250 • Ornamental crops 285 • Vegetables 38 • Fruit 5

15. Influences of introduction PVP • Breeding industry is harmonised • Conflict prevention and problem solution • Security in ownership • Increased interest in commercial breeding • Enhanced introduction of and access to foreign varieties • Increased competition from local and foreign breeders • Farmers grow better varieties

16. Conclusion • Initial goals sets at the time of introduction of PVP in Kenya have been achieved • Asante sana na kwa heri