With the UK leaving the EU, the time has come to find out what will happen to agriculture and how this break up will affect the seed sector. It is clear that basically all plant varieties, which are currently being sold in the UK, are enjoying Europe-wide plant breeders’ rights (PBR) as issued by the CPVO. The departure of the UK may result in the sudden loss of intellectual property rights for all these varieties, with potentially disastrous consequences. Not knowing what will happen with this and other seed and agriculture related issues has already started to affect investment decisions as seed companies are now filing for separate UK PBR on top of their EU PBR to ensure the fruits of their investments will receive adequate protection. Having clear legal frameworks and harmonisation between those various legal frameworks is now, more than ever, a clear goal, regardless of a countries political affiliations.
