Plant Patenting

Plant patenting, under Plant Variety Protection (PVP), is a legal process that grants exclusive rights to breeders of new plant varieties. This means that if someone develops a unique plant through breeding or other methods, they can protect it from being reproduced or sold by others without permission. The protection lasts for a specified period, usually 20 years, allowing the breeder to recoup their investment and benefit from their innovation. This system encourages agricultural diversity and advancements by rewarding creativity in plant development while ensuring that new varieties are distinct, uniform, and stable.