b'worldSTATUS A look at seed industry developments around the globe.Organizations ask theSTATUS AUSTRALIA ants Belinda Cay andtion systems and consumer EU to review the CouncilGrain growers in the southernRebecca Jeisman, fromqualities of agricultural and cropping region are invited toAgCommunicators. Thehorticultural products. The Regulation No. 2100/94,provide the Grains ResearchGrower Network is split intoEuropean Green Deal and and India experiences aand Development Corporationthree rainfall zone-basedFarm to Fork Strategies will new soil-borne pathogen in(GRDC) with ideas to advancegroups to help capture spe- not deliver their goals with-their industry. cific sub-regional issues. Eachout plant breeding. Breeders chickpeas.The GRDCs southernrainfall zone is representedneed an effective IP system region Grower Networkpre- by 15 members (growers,in order to continue to invest viously known as the Regionaladvisers, researchers, agribusi- in this important work. It is of Cropping Solutions Network ness) with broad geographicalutmost importance for breed-is seeking input from growers,representation and diverseers and growers that the EU advisers and others in theskill sets. Plant Variety Rights system is grains industry to help informMembers meet regularly torobust and effective.investment in grains research,identify and prioritise regionalPointing out a number development and extensionconstraints and opportuni- of provisions in the Basic (RD&E). ties and provide this impor- Regulation that require The Grower Network istant information back toimprovement, the organiza-conducting a survey aboutthe GRDC. Ideas collectedtions argue that, however opportunities to increasethrough the online surveyrobust in the international grower profitability. will be presented at thesecomparison, the 25-year-old GRDC Grower Relationsmeetings for discussion andCPVR system fails to adapt ManagerSouth, Courtneyprioritization. to the latest developments in Ramsey, says the GrowerSource: GRDC global agriculture, horticulture Network and the GRDC eachand plant breeding technolo-year host local forums acrossgies. Already in 2011, the final the region to gather informa- STATUS EU report of the Evaluation of tion around opportunities forIn a joint letter addressedthe Community Plant Variety improving profit, however,to the EU Directorate- Right Acquis had requested COVID-19 restrictions haveGeneral for Health and Foodan improvement of the Basic made this years planned face- Safety, AIPH, CIOPORA,Regulation, but no legislative to-face meetings difficult. Euroseeds and Plantum haveactions have been taken since.Instead, were seekingrequested that the EuropeanThe recent decision of the valued input from growers,Commission considers review- European Court of Justice advisers and others via aing the Council Regulation(CJEU) in case C-176/18 quick eight question online(EC) No. 2100/94 (Basic(Nadorcott) regarding man-survey which will supportregulation) on the protectiondarin trees that were com-the Grower Network and theof Community Plant Varietymercialised by a licensed GRDC in capturing issues thatRights (CPVR). The joint effortgrower without permission impact on farm profitability,was prompted by the non- of the breeder in the period Ramsey says.inclusion of the Communitybetween the application Growers ideas and issuesPlant Variety Rights (CPVR)and the grant of the right collected as part of this initia- system in the EU IP Roadmap,exposed the weakness of the tive will provide another mech- the document that draws aprovisional protection and anism to help ensure issuesplan for the improvementthe protection of harvested are well understood by theof IP protection laws andmaterial under CPVR. This GRDC to inform investments inmechanisms in the EU. does not provide an incentive targeted grains RD&E. An effective plant breedingfor breeders to commercial-The southern Growersector is essential for a varietyize their varieties before a Network is co-ordinatedof societal goals such asPVR is granted. Especially by experienced consult- improving sustainable produc- in the case of fruit trees, this 82/ SEEDWORLD.COMOCTOBER 2020'