CIOPORA, the International Association of Breeders of Asexually Reproduced Ornamental and Fruit Varieties, will host its 56th annual general meeting (agm) in Toronto April 24-28, 2017.
CIOPORA agm 2017 will gather innovative breeders from the ornamental and fruit industries, as well as intellectual property (IP) experts, for a five-day agenda with discussions and presentations on all aspects of current national and global systems of IP protection for plant innovations. While much of the agenda is designed for CIOPORA members, the public is invited to attend:
– The CIOPORA Academy Workshop – Monday, April 24
– North American Breeders Meeting – Tuesday, April 25
– CIOPORA Toronto Public IP Conference – Thursday, April 27
The CIOPORA Public IP Conference will take place on Thursday, April 27 at the Radisson Admiral Hotel in Toronto and will be open to the public. The agenda will consist of 15 presentations and panel discussions on topics including New Plant Breeding Techniques and related challenges, North American market and trade trends in the fruit and ornamental industries, US Free Trade Agreements and their role in IP for plants, taxation of royalties and more.
“CIOPORA’s mission is to work for better intellectual property protection within the horticulture industry, which in turn stimulates innovation for an improved society. With the rapid increases in technology and globalization, this is a pivotal time for our association,” said Andrea Mansuino, President of CIOPORA. “We invite any individual with interests in the fruit or ornamental sectors to join us for the Toronto Public Conference to be a part of discussions about the current system of IP protection for plant innovation and future market trends.”
North American Breeders Meeting
The North American Breeders Meeting will be the first of its kind to gather breeders of vegetatively propagated ornamentals and fruits from the US, Canada and Mexico to discuss the challenges related to intellectual property protection faced by breeders in North America.
On Monday, April 24, the CIOPORA Academy, the educational arm of CIOPORA, will hold a small-group workshop focused on IP in horticulture led by experts from around the globe. Topics will include: The Basics of Applying for Plant Patents, Trademark Law in the US, Novelty (Period of Grace) in PBR and Plant Patents, IP Enforcement in the US: Civil, Criminal and Customs Law, PBR and Trademarks in Mexico
All events will take place at the Radisson Admiral Hotel in Toronto.
CIOPORA is the International Association of Breeders of Asexually Reproduced Ornamental and Fruit Varieties. Breeders of such varieties account for two-thirds of all Plant Variety Rights (PVR) titles in the world. For more than 50 years, CIOPORA has represented these breeders in all matters of Intellectual Property (IP) Protection and aims to foster an environment throughout the world in which the creativity and innovation of these breeders can flourish. CIOPORA is a member-based, nonprofit Swiss organization with its administrative office in Hamburg, Germany. CIOPORA: Uniting Breeders, Protecting Innovation.
