Variety Protection

Variety protection is a legal right granted to the creator or breeder of a new, distinct, uniform, and stable plant variety. It prevents others from reproducing or selling that specific plant variety without permission, encouraging innovation in agriculture and horticulture. This protection lasts for a certain period, typically 20 years, and helps breeders recover investment costs while promoting the development of improved plant varieties. It’s different from patents, focusing specifically on plant varieties, and allows breeders to control how their new plants are used and distributed.