Novelty Protection Webinar and Sparring Partner Group (SPG) Meeting

New Year, New Free Novelty Protection Webinar on Tuesday, 16 January. Our guest speakers include Mr Dirk Theobald, CPVO Senior Technical Advisor, and Dr Niels Louwaars, Director of Plantum.

Mr Theobald has been working in the headquarters of the CPVO since 1995. In his presentation for the Novelty Protection Webinar, he will discuss the developments and challenges within CPVO since its establishment in 1994.

Dr Louwaars has provided advisory services to several countries on their seed policies, including plant breeders’ rights. He is also the initiator of the International Plant Variety Protection course, which will have its 25th edition in 2024. He will discuss Intellectual property discussions in relation to NGT’s and the ongoing sustainability transitions for ornamental growers.

PROGRAMME

13.00 Welcome to attendees from Dr Audrey Timm, AIPH Technical Initiatives Manager, and introduction from Mr Jack Goossens, AIPH Chair of the AIPH Ornamental Production Committee.

13.02 Mr Goossens will open the webinar and introduce the first speaker.

13.05 – 13.30 Mr Dirk Theobald, CPVO Senior Technical Advisor, will focus on Developments and Challenges within CPVO. 25 minutes.

13.30 Mr Goossens introduces the second speaker.

13.32 – 13.47 Dr Niels Louwaars, Director of Plantum, will present Intellectual property discussions in relation to NGT’s and the ongoing sustainability transitions for ornamental growers. 25 minutes.

13.47 – 14.00 Mr Goossens leads panel-style Q&A with Mr Theobald and Dr Louwaars.

14.00 Dr Timm thanks attendees and will invite SPG members to stay online for the Novelty Protection report by Ms Mia Buma, Novelty Protection Group Advisor to AIPH.

14.05 – 14.30 Ms Buma will update SPG Members in the Zoom breakout room, which will take 20 minutes, including questions and answers.

14.30 meeting to be closed by Mr Goossens and Dr Timm.

Free to register

Mr Dirk Theobald is the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) Senior Technical Advisor.
He has worked in the headquarters of the CPVO since 1995. His presentation for the Novelty Protection Webinar will focus on Developments and Challenges within CPVO since its establishment in 1994.

Presentation outline:

1. Statistics
2. CPVO cooperation with international organisations
a. EU Commission
b. UPOV
c. EPO
3. Overview of the international relationship activities
4. CPVO – industry relationship
5. CPVO-EUIPO study on the impact of the EU-PVR system on the EU economy and the environment

Dr Niels Louwaars is the Managing Director of Plantum, a seed association based in the Netherlands.
He received his education in plant breeding from Wageningen University in the Netherlands. After gaining work experience in Asia and Africa, he developed the concept of ISSD (integrated seed sector development).
For his 2007 PhD at Wageningen University, he focused on seed policy and law, including seed regulations and national sovereign, collective, and private rights on genetic resources associated with seed systems.
Dr Louwaars has advised several countries on their seed policies, including plant breeders’ rights. He also initiated the International Plant Variety Protection course, which will have its 25th edition in 2024.

Intellectual property discussions in relation to NGT’s and the ongoing sustainability transitions for ornamental growers

Presentation outline:

1. Relevance of genome editing for ornamental growers and state of GMO-regulations
2. Role of breeding in the ongoing sustainability transitions in ornamental production.
3. Discussions on IP in relation to NGTs in Europe and its policies on ‘no patents on products of essential biological processes’.

As the world’s champion for the power of plants, one of AIPH’s missions is to protect and promote the interests of the ornamental horticulture industry. Through our Novelty Protection Group, we host a Sparring Partner Group (SPG). Members are constantly informed about the latest developments, the juridical consequences, and possible solutions. Thanks to these exchanges, discussions, and better understanding and awareness of the importance of Plant Breeder Rights and the other fields of intellectual property rights, we can support a good working PBR system at both the national and international levels and contribute to future solutions and new balances.

SPG Members have access to key information and resources relevant to this group. Membership of the AIPH SPG is open to all AIPH Members and AIPH Affiliate Members https://aiph.org/about/membership/. Please contact info@aiph.org if you are interested in becoming a member of AIPH.