MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT OF NEW VARIETIES

B. Wickson
Government plant breeders worldwide are being forced to seek greater external funding for cultivar development programs, while private plant breeders are seeking a greater share in the rewards that new varieties are providing. Variety Management organisations are therefore being forced to develop and implement systems that provide an adequate return to the variety breeder/owner, in an effort to ensure growers have access to the best genetic material available. This likewise ensures our industries are competitive both domestically an internationally. The systems involve production royalties, tree royalties, annual tree production royalties, franchising and variety access fees. They involve controlling varieties, their production and quality, using Plant Patents, Plant Breeders Rights, Trade Marks and Civil Contracts. The end result will be an integrated variety ownership from the breeder/owner to the retailer, providing a better product to the customer/consumer. However, breeders worldwide need to be aware of the future requirements from legal contracts, and ensure that varieties are adequately protected. Varieties are no longer regarded as single units in each country. Organisations are now established to manage varieties on a global basis, ensuring that markets are not oversupplied and that all levels in the chain remain profitable. The mechanisms for Global Variety Management are now in place providing variety protection, marketing and promotion through one office. The author has in excess of 400 varieties under contract worldwide and manages these under the full range of systems.
Wickson, B. (2002). MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT OF NEW VARIETIES. Acta Hortic. 575, 401-405
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2002.575.46
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2002.575.46
English

Acta Horticulturae