The Plant Variety Protection Act

The Plant Variety Protection Act is a law that gives plant breeders exclusive rights to new, distinct, uniform, and stable plant varieties they develop. This means breeders can control how their protected plants are used, such as selling or reproducing them. The law encourages innovation in agriculture by providing legal protection, similar to patents, but specifically for new plant varieties. It balances breeders' rights with public interest by allowing limited exceptions, like seed saving for personal use. Overall, it aims to promote the development and availability of improved plant varieties for farmers and consumers.