Today is World Intellectual Property Day 2016! The European seed industry relies on Intellectual Property to protect plant breeders' interests and their ability to innovate.
Investment in plant breeding is primarily funded through the plant breeders’ rights system - a unique form of intellectual property which allows a fair return on investment to breeders while guaranteeing the continuous flow of improved plant varieties by safeguarding access to genetic variability through the so-called breeder’s exemption.