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Welcome back to another article in our ‘Plant Breeding Success Stories’ series. This series of articles highlights a selection of plant breeders and companies across the EU, giving us a deeper insight into how the plant varieties of the future are developed.

In this article we’re talking to Jacques from Fobek, a breeding company specializing in potatoes who’s process involves working with associated “backyard” breeders.

Could you briefly describe the work of Fobek?

Fobek is a potato breeding company that runs separate breeding programs for its different

Technical examinations which are initiated or are to be approved by the Community Plant Variety Office must be performed in accordance with the test guidelines which have been adopted by the Administrative Council. Technical examinations started prior to the decision are not affected unless otherwise announced. The plant species concerned as well as the date of the decision are accordingly published in the Official Gazette of the Office. The technical protocol can be consulted through the website of the Office, or upon request can be transmitted by the Office. Technical questionnaires

Here we are at the fourth article of our series dedicated to "Plant Breeding Success Stories." This time, we travel to Tarragona, Spain, home of Deltacactus. Boasting a production of eight million plants, with a focus on CAM plants, Deltacactus stands at the forefront of the succulent industry. Crassulacean acid metabolism, often referred to as CAM photosynthesis, represents a method of carbon fixation that developed in certain plants as a response to dry environments. This adaptation enables the plant to conduct photosynthesis during daylight while restricting gas exchange to

On February 14th, the Community Plant Variety Office will be participating in a key event organized by the Italian-Spanish section of the Ilustre Colegio de la Abogacía de Madrid (ICAM), titled "Benefits of Plant Breeding and the Community System for the Protection of Plant Varieties as Tools to Strengthen Sustainable Development in Spain and Italy."  

This session is set to thoroughly explore the importance of plant breeding and variety protection in sustainable agricultural practices.

The event, starting at 16:00 hours at the Salón de Actos del ICAM (C/Serrano, 9), is

In a strategic move to empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), in collaboration with the European Commission and Member State IP offices, has launched the 2024 SME Fund. With a generous allocation of 20 million euros, this fund is dedicated to bolstering Intellectual Property (IP) protection for SMEs, thereby strengthening their market competitiveness.

This year, the fund places a significant focus on the breeding sector, underlining the commitment of the Community Plant Variety Office to ensure that SMEs engaged in

Following the withdrawal agreement of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU), the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has informed the CPVO with regard to titles currently in force in the United Kingdom in this way:

Varieties with EU Plant Variety Rights granted by the CPVO and effective on 31 December 2020 continue to be protected under UK legislation in the UK for their remaining lifespan and are referred to as Retained EU Plant Variety Rights.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) requires holders of Retained EU Plant Variety Rights to provide an address