Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA)

The Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA), enacted in 1970, is a U.S. law that provides legal protection for new plant varieties. It gives breeders exclusive rights to sell, reproduce, and distribute their new plant varieties for a specified period, typically 20 to 25 years. This encourages innovation in agriculture by ensuring that those who develop new plants can benefit from their work. The PVPA ensures that plant breeders can recoup their investments, promotes research and development in plant breeding, and ultimately contributes to a diverse and sustainable food supply.