Report showing how EPO patents circumvent Rule 28(2) EPC for conventionally bred plants, with case examples and proposed legal fixes including a full breeders’ exemption.
patents
Using open-source resistance to ToBRFV in participatory tomato breeding in Austria
ARCHE NOAH presents participatory tomato breeding work in Austria using open-source ToBRFV resistance, breeding objectives, patent challenges, available resistant materials, and planned resistance testing (2026–2027).
Plant variety protection, NGTs and patents: Updates on political debates and cooperation amongst organic breeders, growers and NGOs
Slide presentation (24 May 2026) by NO PATENTS ON SEEDS! summarising legal background, recent patents on classical breeding and NGTs, risks for breeders, and policy recommendations to clarify exclusion of classical breeding from patentability.
Breeding maize with PVP, patents and NGTs
Presentation on how PVP, patents and NGTs shape maize breeding, seed industry consolidation, barriers for small breeders (DUS/VCU, registration), and advocacy for breeders’ exemption, regional and community-supported breeding.
15th Let’s Liberate Diversity! Forum – Scandicci 2026 – Final report
Final report of the 15th Let’s Liberate Diversity! Forum (May 2026, Scandicci) summarising workshops on EU seed law reform, NGTs, patents, seed systems, community seed initiatives, Living Labs and festival activities.
14th Let’s Liberate Diversity! Forum – Luxembourg 2025 – Final report
Final report of the 14th Let’s Liberate Diversity! Forum (4–6 Sep 2025, Luxembourg): 123 participants discussed EU seed law reform, UNDROP, patents, NGTs, participatory breeding, seed health, community seed networks and next steps for advocacy and practice.
11th Let’s Liberate Diversity! Forum – Budapest 2022 – Final report
Final report of the 11th Let’s Liberate Diversity! Forum (Budapest, 2022) documenting workshops, outcomes and resources on seeds, agrobiodiversity, EU seed policy, patents, participatory breeding and community seed systems.
European Patent Office circumvents regulations and laws
No Patents on Seeds! recently published a report highlighting the European Patent Office’s granting of patents not allowed under EU law. Link to the report in this post.
EU plant breeders up against patents by the multinationals
More and more plant breeding material in the EU is getting patented by multinationals giants, a development that poses costs and hurdles for those small breeders that are working to maintain agrobiodiversity, a means of resilience in the face of climate change.
Online talk for media and experts on opposing EU patent for maize
An online talk for media, experts and NGOs in the context of a hearing on opposition to a patent on maize with cold resistance.
