2012 CIOPORA Chronicle

to contribute to the development of
our industry by acknowledging the
importance of IP rights, can contribute
and enhance the awareness of
the readers.
I am honoured by the extremely high
level of the contributions, always
written by worldwide known experts.
Without taking away from you the
pleasure of discovering these articles
further, I nevertheless must mention
at least some of the contributions and
make a short comment on them.
First of all, we are all aware that
today, the big discussions in the field
of Intellectual Property for plants are
focused on the protection of Biotechnology
and GMOs, on the use of
patents for plant–related inventions
and on the need for effective and fair
IP protection for both varieties and
plant related inventions.
Implications such as the breeder’s
exemption, the understanding and
the enforcement of EDVs as well as
the increasing number of Patents are
raising increasing concern among
the traditional breeders’ community
and sometimes doubts on the real
effectiveness of the UPOV system.
Our Secretary General, Dr. Edgar
Krieger, one of the masterminds in
IP for plants, draws the picture of a
potential future IP regime for varieties
and plant related inventions.
It is important to mention that
CIOPORA’s attention is also constantly
consulted for modifications
or interpretations of the breeders’
rights laws all over the world.
Andrea Mansuino, President of CIOPORA
In this regard, we have a special view
on the Americas. The U.S., a UPOV
1991 member, has, along with the
Plant Patent a special protection
system for vegetatively propagated
ornamental and fruit varieties and
the new America Invents Act shall be
highlighted, without forgetting the
constant concern for the consequences
brought by the previous
interpretation of article 102 b) in
the Plant Patent Act. This is why
you will also find a comprehensive
comparison between the Plant Patent
and the PBR in the U.S.
Contributions on the trade dynamics
in the Americas, knowing the importance
of the South American fruit
and cut flower productions for the
US market, are also included.
The importance of the American
markets for breeders of ornamental
and fruit varieties is well underlined,
not only by the attention given in
this Special, but also by the decision
taken by the CIOPORA Board
to hold the next Annual General
Meeting at Miami Beach, Florida,
one of the best conference venues for
the Americans and the main hub for
Colombian and Ecuadorian flowers
into the US market.
In week 17 a crowd of breeders from
the five continents will meet in
Miami to celebrate the General
Meeting of their association and to
discuss the great topics of the industry.
They will be attending IP seminars
conducted by specialists, crop
sections where the main problems
of different products are discussed,
working groups on hot topics such as
GMOs and minimal distances between
varieties and an International
Conference on IP in the Americas.
This will be held on Wednesday,
April 25th, with contributions from
international speakers.
In my position of tenth President of
CIOPORA, I am proud to say that
nowadays, our organisation is a reference
for the breeders’ community all
over the world, and that this Special
is just a small example of many
activities that we constantly developing
for the interest of our industry
and, ultimately, for the “benefit of
the society”.
I wish you good reading.’ |||
CIOPORA Chronicle April 2012 | www.CIOPORA.org 9