Breeders develop new varieties. We test those varieties for national registration or Plant Breeders' Rights.
CPVO extends accreditation of DUS testing for three years
The CPVO has accredited Naktuinbouw as an official research station in the Netherlands for applications for listing and Plant Breeders' Rights. In April, the CPVO renewed this accreditation for another three years.
DUS testing in 2024
The number of DUS applications in 2024 was slightly lower than in 2023, with around 2,000 new applications. There were fewer applications for one-year DUS tests and more applications for two-year DUS tests. As a result, the number of DUS test rose slightly to more than 2,600 in 2024.
Methodology study
DUS testing focuses on listing of varieties and granting Plant Breeders' Rights. For agricultural crops, we also carry out value for cultivation and use testing (VCU). To improve the quality and efficiency of DUS tests, Naktuinbouw conducts methodology studies. This is partly financed by the Board for Plant Varieties. In 2024, we worked on, among other things:
- harmonising resistance tests
- projects as part of the INVITE programme
- the CPVO projects ToBRFV resistance in tomatoes and Aphis gossypii resistance in melons
- a marker test Verticilium resistance in tomatoes
- a molecular database for the management of the reference collection of beans
- SNP discovery in lettuce
- optimising the selection of similar varieties for field trials
- a new protocol for onion and shallot
- determining the bolting susceptibility of celery and celeriac.
Employees from different fields, such as Variety Testing and Testing & Analysis, cooperated on the methodology projects.
New edition of the standard list of Dutch names of cultivated plants
The second edition of the standard list of Dutch names of cultivated plants was published in April. This is an extended version of the first edition dating from 2020. Specialists from Naktuinbouw and the Dutch Association of Botanical Gardens (NVBT) have been working on compiling the list in recent years. The Dutch Dendrological Association, KAVB, Floricode, Floron, Vereniging Stadswerk Nederland and Anthos provided valuable input. The working party for Dutch names of wild plants – with Dutch and Flemish specialists – also contributed.
Read more about the standard list of Dutch names of cultivated plants.
Cooperation between Floricode and Naktuinbouw
In February, Naktuinbouw and Floricode signed an agreement to expand their cooperation in the coming years. Both organisations work on the registration and description of floricultural varieties in PlantScope. Previously, we already shared the use of facilities to create standard images, for example. A number of employees now also work for both organisations.
New resistance greenhouses
To improve resistance research, we are building seven new research areas with an adjacent workplace. These new facilities will offer space to perform several resistance tests simultaneously and allow new tests to be developed. The first pile was symbolically driven into the ground in August.
Contacts with legislative matters
Naktuinbouw represents the Netherlands on behalf of the Board for Plant Varieties at meetings of the CPVO and UPOV:
- CPVO: Naktuinbouw participated online in the Agricultural Expert Meeting and Ornamental Expert Meeting in October and the Vegetable Expert Meeting in November.
- UPOV: Naktuinbouw participated online in the Technical Working Party for Vegetables (TWV) in April and September, the Technical Working Pary for Ornamental Crops (TWO) in late April/early May and the Technical Working Group for Agricultural Crops (TWA) in May.
The UPOV Technical Commission (TC) and the Administrative and Legal Committee (CAJ) held a meeting in Geneva, France in October. The Administrative Council met in April and September. Naktuinbouw was also present.
In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN) uses our expertise to make and implementing new laws and regulations. Examples include legislation for ‘New Genomics Techniques’ and the new European regulation for ‘Plant Reproductive Material’ (PRM) for all propagating material of food crops.
PVP Toolbox
We share our knowledge of Plant Breeders' Rights worldwide. The PVP Toolbox is the framework for projects that highlight the importance of Plant Breeders' Rights and knowledge of this subject. The main demand for the Toolbox projects is from agricultural councils. The Ministry of Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature provides funding for the PVP Toolbox. In 2024, we worked on Toolbox projects with the following countries: Morocco, Dominican Republic, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Japan, Armenia and Ghana. Organising visits to Naktuinbouw, training at Naktuinbouw or abroad, participation in the ‘PBR Course’ and other knowledge transfer sessions are all done by the PVP Toolbox. For example, in partnership with the Dutch embassy in Serbia, we organised the ‘Western Balkan Conference on Plant Breeders' Rights’ in Belgrade.
Morocco
Morocco wants to improve the procedures for introducing new potato varieties. Two experts from the Moroccan National Food Safety Office (ONSSA) therefore visited the Netherlands in February. Among other things, we shared our knowledge and expertise.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic wants to improve its Plant Breeders' Rights system, so the number of applications for Plant Breeders' Rights can be increased. Three specialists from Naktuinbouw travelled to the Dominican Republic in March and provided training on Plant Breeders' Rights.
Kazakhstan
A delegation from Kazakhstan visited Naktuinbouw in June to learn more about the Dutch Plant Breeders' Rights system and the UPOV. Kazakhstan will become a member of the UPOV in 2025.
Kenya
Kenya wants to improve its Plant Breeders' Rights system so representatives of the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) visited Naktuinbouw for training in June. The training focused the DUS testing of ornamental crops and the UPOV system.
Japan
In July, we welcomed Japanese experts who wanted to learn more about the Dutch system of Plant Breeders' Rights. The emphasis was on enforcement, variety registration and DNA marker applications. We also started a research project with the Japanese NARO/NCSS with three pilot studies on tomatoes, potatoes and strawberries. The aim is to improve the use of molecular markers and to investigate cases of infringements of Plant Breeders' Rights with the aim of improving how Plant Breeders' Rights are enforced. For this purpose, both parties signed a ‘Material Transfer Agreement’ to enable DNA samples and protocols to be exchanged more easily.
Armenia
As Armenia wants to improve its Plant Breeders' Rights system, it joined the UPOV in 2024. In addition, various activities took place in 2024:
- In July, a small Armenian delegation visited Naktuinbouw to learn more about the Dutch system of Plant Breeders' Rights.
- Naktuinbouw gave Plant Breeders' Rights training in Armenia in October.
- Two Armenian participants also followed the online ‘PBR Course’ given by Naktuinbouw.
Ghana
Ghana wants a more efficient and transparent system of Plant Breeders' Rights. To do this, various activities took place in 2024:
- Two Ghanaian participants followed the online ‘PBR course’.
- An online session on naming plant varieties took place in June.
- In September, a delegation from the ‘Ghana Industrial Property Office’ visited the Netherlands for training on Plant Breeders' Rights administration.
- In November we trained twenty local researchers in Ghana. The training course shared practical knowledge about UPOV guidelines, test preparation and DUS assessments.
Other international activities
We participate in various international projects relating to Plant Breeders’ Rights.
Bangladesh
Naktuinbouw contributed to an exploratory study to assess the seed sector in Bangladesh. The emphasis was on Plant Breeders’ Rights, inspections and import and export regulations. Two missions to Bangladesh took place: one in 2023 and one in early 2024. After this, Bangladeshi representatives visited the Netherlands, including Naktuinbouw. The 'Netherlands-Bangladesh Seed Partnership‘ was established in 2024. Naktuinbouw is a member of the advisory committee and from this role can supervise the development of the sector. Cooperation with Bangladesh was initiated by SeedNL.
Philippines
In 2024, we organised various activities aimed at strengthening the seed sector in the Philippines in the framework of the National Seed Technology Park Knowledge-Transfer Project, which was officially completed in October. An important milestone was the ISTA accreditation of the BPI-NSQCS laboratory. This permits the Philippines to issue internationally recognised seed test certificates.
- Training sessions on ISTA standards, laboratory techniques and seed inspection.
- DUS training for PVP Office examiners to improve the assessment of plant varieties.
- A PVP awareness seminar and dialogue meeting with government officials.
The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) of the Philippines, which is the main beneficiary of the project, is making plans for follow-up training. The 54 directly trained staff members can transfer their knowledge to 2,400 additional inspectors, analysts and quarantine officers nationwide.
Suriname
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of Suriname and the Dutch Ministry of LVVN are collaborating to improve the quality of plant reproductive material in Suriname. Naktuinbouw is coordinating the Makandra programme (2021-2025). This involved various activities took place in 2024:
- A study visit of the National Seed Council to the Netherlands took place in September.
- August saw the assessment of the seed system for local fruit and vegetables.
- In early December, CGN visited Suriname to support the gene bank.
Thailand
Naktuinbouw supported the CPVO in organising a three-day Plant Breeders' Rights event in the context of IPKey SEA. The event brought together stakeholders from different sectors to discuss topics relating to the UPOV system, Plant Breeders' Rights legislation and boost synergies between plant breeding and the conservation of genetic resources.
Nigeria
Naktuinbouw provided training on DUS tests, variety databases and the maintenance of variety release catalogues. This was a follow-up to previous online and individual DUS training.
EAPVP Forum
Naktuinbouw attended the East Asia Plant Variety Protection (EAPVP) Forum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The forum acts as a platform for knowledge exchange, networking with international experts and collaboration to strengthen Plant Breeders' Rights systems across the entire region.