Since the introduction of Plant Breeder’s Rights (PBR) twenty years ago, the structure of the pasture seeds industry has been transformed; and a new report from the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) offers a valuable overview of the impacts of PBR on commercial relationships in the industry.

“This research marks a breakthrough in legal research into Plant Breeders’ Rights and intellectual property in the plant breeding industry,” said RIRDC Managing Director Dr Peter O’Brien.

Dr O’Brien was launching Plant Breeder’s Rights and Contract Growing in the Pasture Seeds Industry — a new report from RIRDC which examines the relationship between the development of Plant breeder’s rights (PBR) and the expansion of the contract seed-growing industry.

The report explains how the pasture seeds market has changed over the last twenty years since the introduction of PBR, and how an industry has emerged around specialist contract growers as a result of this change.

It presents the legal framework of PBR, including the how these rights are enforced and how growers need to go about dealing with new varieties.

The report includes the results of a survey of pasture seed growers on their attitudes to contract growing. A legal analysis of growing contracts looks at their effects on the commercial relationships between growers and seed marketing companies.

 “The pasture seeds industry depends on productivity growth, driven by research and development, to maintain its competitiveness in the global market,” Dr O’Brien said.

The RIRDC Pasture Seeds R&D Program is funded by the pasture seeds industry in partnership with the Australian Government, and addresses research needs identified by the industry,

“This research addresses the need for a clearer understanding of management practices and issues, and will contribute to the growth of a more profitable and sustainable industry,” Dr O’Brien said.

The reports author, Associate Professor Rocque Reynolds of the University of Technology Sydney’s Faculty of Law, said that the project responds to the industry’s need for a clear understanding of the legal implications of intellectual property issues around Plant Breeder’s Rights.

“The report shows that, in general, pasture seed growers and seed companies have formed strong commercial relationships, based on joint interests and trust,” Associate Professor Reynolds said.

“The results of this research will be valuable for all stakeholders in the pasture seeds industry who wish to understand more fully how intellectual property rights shape their industry, and the role of contract growing in the management of intellectual property rights,” she said.

Plant Breeder’s Rights and Contract Growing in the Pasture Seeds Industry is available from RIRDC. For more information visit www.rirdc.gov.au, call 02 6271 4160 or email publications@rirdc.gov.au

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Media enquiries:
Martin Field – RIRDC Public Affairs Manager – tel - 02 6272 4735 / 0418 430 760, email - martin.field@rirdc.gov.au