USDA Plant Variety Protection Office

The USDA Plant Variety Protection Office (PVPO) is a government agency that helps safeguard new plant varieties developed through breeding. It grants Plant Variety Protection Certificates, which give breeders exclusive rights to sell, reproduce, and distribute their new varieties for a certain period. This protection encourages innovation in agriculture by allowing breeders to benefit from their research and investment. Essentially, the PVPO ensures that breeders can maintain control over their creations, promoting the development of improved crops that can enhance food security and agricultural diversity.