At the heart of plant variety innovation within Europe, the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) is spearheading a transformative approach to research and development (R&D). With a well-funded R&D portfolio, our Agency is not just nurturing growth but also pioneering the standards of plant variety examination, setting a precedent for quality and precision.
From its creation, the Office has engaged in the improvement of DUS testing, notably by providing grants to its stakeholders for research and innovation activities. In this area, CPVO operates within a diverse ecosystem of examination offices (“entrusted EOs”) relying on public, private or hybrid funds. The Office has crafted a meticulous process for project proposals.
This approach allows for a variety of engagement levels, from observers to associate partners, depending on each entity's capacity.
The co-funded projects aim at the harmonization, simplification, and optimization of the technical protocols to improve the cost-efficiency and reliability of the DUS tests.
How it works
CPVO’s R&D call focuses on the activities of its own European network of entrusted EOs, the only ones to be eligible for co-financing. Each project must be coordinated by one EO and can include other EOs entrusted for the species at stake. Non-entrusted EOs and third parties (e.g., breeders, research and technical institutes) can participate on their own fundings. The project should lead to consortiums of experts fostering collaborations. The idea is not to fund fundamental research, but rather incremental developments of new tools whose proofs of concept have already been published.
The focus remains steadfastly on applied research that promises practical outcomes and advancements in plant variety examination.
Timeline
At the end of March each year, the CPVO receives proposals from the EOs. These proposals are then carefully reviewed internally and by diverse committees of experts.
The composition of these committees is intended to ensure impartiality, competence, and a broad vision to fully understand and evaluate the relevance of the presented projects and their alignment with CPVO’s R&D strategy.
With a total budget of around half a million euros and an average project duration of around two to three years, the CPVO supports in average 1 to 3 new projects every year.
Based on the experts’ opinions, the President of the CPVO takes its decision in the fall for the laureate projects to be launched at the start of the following year.
The CPVO grants allow EOs to improve their practices, with a positive impact on the European plant variety sector.
The Road Ahead: Fostering Collaboration for Broader Impact
Looking forward, CPVO envisions a greater integration of its network into larger European projects. This integration is more than a goal; it's a commitment to accelerating the evolution of plant variety examination techniques and contributing to a sustainable and prosperous agricultural and horticultural future.
For an example of the kind of R&D projects which the CPVO is involved in, watch the video below.