Japan frustrated by Chinese and Korean strawberry and whisky copycats
Both the Japanese government and Japanese companies are battling Chinese and South Korean copycats, taking steps to protect the image and integrity of made in Japan products. The government, led by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, has revised the Plant Variety Protection and Seed Act. This legislation was partially enforced in early April, with some of the other regulations set to be effective next year. It is intended to better safeguard intellectual property pertaining to the development of new seeds. This will protect the brand value, the amendment of the law is highly appreciated, a representative of the Fukuoka branch of the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations, Zen-Noh, told Nikkei Asia. Fukuoka is the home of Hakata Amaou, a premium strawberry variety.
Japan’s plan to protect its produce
Seeds and seedlings of 1,975 natively developed fruit and vegetables added to list of protected produce
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Japan has tightened its control over its natively developed fruit and vegetables. The country’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has released a list of 1,975 varieties of natively developed fruits and vegetables, of which some seeds and seedlings are banned from being taken out of the country.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga - the son of a strawberry farmer in Akita Prefecture – is reported to be playing a leading role in the move.
Asia Nikkei reports this latest announcement comes after the partial implementation on 1 April of the amended Plant Variety Protection and Seed Act.
Seed monopolies: Who controls the world s food supply?
Seed laws criminalizing farmers for using diverse crops that stand a better chance of adapting to climate change are threatening food security. Seed sovereignty activists want to reclaim the right to plant.
More than half of the global seed market is in the hands of just a few corporations
For thousands of years of human agriculture, the intrinsic nature of a seed the capacity to reproduce itself prevented it from being easily commodified. Grown and resown by farmers, seeds were freely exchanged and shared.
All that changed in the 1990s when laws were introduced to protect new bioengineered crops. Today, four corporations Bayer, Corteva, ChemChina and Limagrain control more than 50% of the world s seeds. These staggering monopolies dominate the global food supply.
Nigeria to generate $2bn in five years through plant variety protection law ― NESG Nigeria to generate $2bn in five years through plant variety protection law ― NESG
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The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has said that Nigeria would be earning $2 billion through the implementation of the plant variety protection law.
NESG also applauded the Nigerian senate for passing the Plant Variety protection Bill (PVP) into law on the 3rd of March 2021.
The PVP Bill (HB 68) was read for the third time and passed into law by the Senate after several months of deliberations.
It will be recalled that the Plant Variety Protection Bill was read for the First time in the Senate on February 16, 2021and is in concurrence with the passage of the Bill by the House of Representatives on December 17, 2020.