Fri Sep 06 15:58:35 UTC 2024: ## Seed Producers Urged to Register Varieties to Protect Innovation

**Hyderabad, India** – The Chairman of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority (PPVFRA), Trilochan Mohapatra, has urged seed producers, both public and private, to register their varieties with the authority. Mohapatra, a former Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and former Director-General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), stressed the importance of registration for safeguarding against future infringement.

Speaking at an awareness conference on intellectual property rights in the plant sector, Mohapatra highlighted the significant contribution of high-performing seed varieties to agricultural production and economic growth. He emphasized that plant breeding is a costly and time-consuming process, requiring strong returns to justify the investment. “An effective plant variety protection system is crucial to encourage the development of new varieties for societal benefit,” he said.

The conference, organized by the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) in collaboration with the Government of Telangana and PPVFRA, addressed concerns regarding intellectual property rights infringement within the industry. Dinesh Agarwal, Registrar General of PPVFRA, called for self-regulation among seed-producing companies. “We at the Authority will do what we are supposed to do. But we also expect the industry to regulate itself,” he said, highlighting concerns about malpractice within the sector.

The seed industry itself has called for strict enforcement of IPR in the sector, citing the importance of protecting innovation, attracting investment in research and development, enabling technology transfer, and ensuring quality. Industry officials believe that robust enforcement of IPR will create a conducive environment for sector growth, ultimately benefiting farmers, consumers, and the overall economy.

The conference also emphasized the need for increased awareness and understanding of intellectual property rights within the seed and biotechnology sector at the grassroots level. Ram Kaundinya, Advisor of the FSII, stressed the importance of educating law enforcement authorities and the judiciary on identifying and addressing IP infringement, including illegal production of unapproved genetically modified seeds.

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