According to Peter Button ( former caput of international plant mixture rights establishment UPOV ) , last November ’s House of Lords report into the challenges confront the horticulture sector and the Government ’s recent reception is " a missed chance to strengthen research and access to essential genetic innovation for British growers and their client . "
He finds that it was ' understandable ' that the report focused on brusk - terminal figure issues affecting the horticulture sector , such as labor accessibility , energy costs , and fairness in the supply chain . However , he argues , " for a composition entitled ' Sowing the germ , ' it is singular how little attending was pay in the report to the grandness of seeds , plant nurture , and genetic innovation because these will be perfectly critical in the medium- and long - term for a competitive and sustainable gardening industry in Britain . Of the report ’s 167 conclusions and recommendations , only two relate to the ' seed ' from which all horticultural crops are acquire , "
" Ironically , nearly all the other 165 conclusions and recommendations hinge on the premise that growers will have access to the improved seed and planting fabric they ask to meet the demands of customers . It is therefore surprising that no credit is made in the composition of the experiential threats currently facing Britain ’s veggie , fruit , and ornamental stock breeder and source suppliers , specially in a post - Brexit scenario , " he total .
Peter Button , former fountainhead of former head of UPOV
On the Science for Sustainable Agriculture ( SSA ) website , Mr. Button highlights that since leaving the EU , the UK works breeding and seed sector has been facing challenge . He remark exercise such as increased variety registration costs and time lag , difficulty moving come and breeding material to and from Europe under new works health agreement , and uncertainty over the potential red of seed treatment intersection .
In his popular opinion , these pressures would have damaging effect for British growers ' succeeding access to genetic innovation if they were go forth ungoverned . Which , he thinks , was becoming even more vital in the face of climate alteration and the pauperism to adapt to change in seasonality , greater weather extremes , droughts and floods , heat stress , and raw disease and insect pest challenges .
Looking beyond the quick post - Brexit challenge , Mr. Button also highlight new opportunity for UK gardening . He believes that better coordination of inquiry , innovation between diligence , academia , and government , and build on existing clusters to educate scale and mass , as well as using IP more efficaciously , could help oneself cultivator make and capture value .
He points to international example of IP being used to capture time value for growers and more sustainably fund next horticulture research . He take the Canadian sweet-smelling cherry sphere as an case . He claims that new varieties transmute the sector into a multi - million buck industry , while the 1980 Bayh - Dole Act in the USA would have stimulated innovation in the gardening sector — by enabling universities , non - profit research institutions , and small business to own IP , protect and commercialize state - funded inventions , encouraging greater involvement in the transfer of engineering science from the science lab to market place ( include through public - private partnership ) .
Mr. Button also cite Pink Lady ® apples as an example of how IP could be used to benefit stock breeder , growers , and consumers in the gardening sector : " The price of Pink Lady Malus pumila , arise from a variety developed in Australia , is significantly in high spirits than that of older varieties such as Golden Delicious . Consumers are loose to choose the cheaper option , but if they take Pink Lady , it is because they opt the quality that result from investing in enquiry and instauration . Importantly , the returns for growers of Pink Lady apples are generally importantly high than for non - protect mixed bag – a profits - win - profits for stock breeder , growers , and consumers . "
in the end , Mr. Button accent that reform could make the UK Plant Breeders Rights and National List scheme more ' cost - efficient ' and ' streamlined . ' He illustrates this financial statement by the cooperation mechanisms that exist within the international UPOV system , both in full term of variety testing and advanced IT scheme . He warn that without a more ' progressive ' approach , the status quo could result in motley being few or slower available to British agriculturalist ( due to increased readjustment costs and the UK ’s relatively small market ) .
Peter Button ’s article , entitle : " Focus on genetics and IP needed to boost Britain ’s horticulture sector " is available on the SSA website .
For more information : Science for Sustainable Agriculture[email protected]www.scienceforsustainableagriculture.com
