Plant Variety Rights

Plant Variety Rights (PVR) are legal protections for new plant varieties granted to breeders. They ensure that the creators of new plant breeds can control their commercialization, restricting others from producing, selling, or using their variety without permission. This incentivizes innovation in agriculture, horticulture, and forestry by allowing breeders to earn returns on their investments. PVR lasts for a specific period, typically 20 to 25 years, after which the variety enters the public domain, allowing anyone to use it freely. This system balances the interests of breeders with the need for public access to new plant varieties.