What Is the Online Register of Belgian Breeders’ Rights?

The register is a public platform that lists Belgian plant varieties that are currently or were previously protected by intellectual property rights.

What Are Plant Breeder's Rights?

Plant breeder's rights are a form of intellectual property that protects new plant varieties. They grant breeders the exclusive right to commercialise their varieties for a certain period:

• 25 years for most plant varieties
• 30 years for trees, vines and potatoes

Why Are These Rights Important?

This protection serves two main purposes for agriculture and horticulture:

1. Encourage innovation: protecting plant breeders' rights encourages researchers and farmers to develop new plant varieties that are more resilient, productive, and adapted to climate challenges.
2. Protect investments: developing new plant varieties requires significant investments in time and resources. Plant breeders' rights provide legal protection that allows breeders to make their efforts profitable.

Explore our register and keep up with plant innovations!

For more information, visit our webpage on plant breeders' rights.