Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
February 27, 2015
The members of Partners in Innovation applaud changes to Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR) legislation found in Bill C-18, An Act to Amend Certain Acts Relating to Agriculture and Agri-Food (the Canadian Agricultural Growth Act), which has received Royal Assent.
Partners in Innovation is a coalition of 20 provincial, regional and national organizations from all across Canada. The organizations represent the vast majority of farmers in Canada, and almost all of the crop production across the country.
Coalition members from coast‐to‐coast and from crop‐to‐crop are united in support of amendments to Canada’s Plant Breeders’ Rights legislation found in Bill C‐18. The amendments will align PBR with the 1991 Convention of the International Union for the Protection of New Plant Varieties; offer opportunities for increased investment and delivery of new varieties both from plant breeders operating in and outside of Canada; and ensure that farmers have access to new and improved varieties developed in Canada and internationally. These are essential ingredients of an agricultural sector that is sustainable, innovative and competitive.
“Today’s announcement strikes a good balance between farmers being competitive and able to access the best varieties available in Canada and internationally, and plant breeders receiving a return on their investment in research and innovation,” said Ron Bonnett, President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture.
“The amendments will strengthen the intellectual property rights for plant breeding in Canada, in turn encouraging greater investment and innovation in research and variety development," said Barley Council of Canada Chair Brian Otto. "We are confident this increased investment will ensure better access to new and improved seed varieties, which will guarantee the quality we need to better target our customers' needs.”
“Legislative amendments contained in Bill C-18 will further enhance the contribution of Canadian fresh fruit and vegetable growers to healthy diets for Canadian families. In particular, amendment of the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act to align with international standards of intellectual property protection will enable our horticultural producers to access new and innovative crop varieties developed internationally while encouraging domestic plant breeding and the development of Canadian varieties that can compete in international markets,” said Keith Kuhl, President, Canadian Horticultural Council.
Now that C-18 has been brought to reality, Partners in Innovation looks forward to working with the federal government on implementing the amendments to PBR over the next few months.
Partners in Innovation is a coalition of 20 provincial, regional and national organizations from all across Canada. The coalition was founded by a group of leading Canadian farmer and agricultural organizations which joined forces to support Canadian government legislation intended to improve Plant Breeders’ Rights in Canada.
Members: Alberta Barley, Alberta Pulse Growers Commission, Alberta Wheat Commission, Atlantic Grains Council, Barley Council of Canada, British Columbia Grains Producers Association, Canadian Canola Growers Association, Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Canadian Horticultural Council, Canadian Ornamental Horticulture Alliance, Canadian Potato Council, Canadian Seed Trade Association, Cereals Canada, Fédération des producteurs de cultures commerciales du Québec, Grain Farmers of Ontario, Grain Growers of Canada, Manitoba Pulse Growers Association, Mustard 21, The Prairie Oat Growers Association, Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association
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