New Zealand’s plant breeders and growers are set to receive stronger legal protections under planned changes to plant variety rights (PVR) laws aimed at boosting exports and encouraging long-term agricultural innovation.
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Cameron Brewer announced reforms to the Plant Variety Rights Act 2022, saying the measures would help safeguard investments tied to high-value horticultural products and support regional economies.
The changes include extending the protection period for some plant varieties and restoring provisional protection, allowing breeders to take legal action from the moment an application is lodged rather than waiting until rights are formally granted.
Brewer said the horticulture sector depends heavily on years of costly research, breeding and commercialisation, and stronger intellectual property settings were needed for New Zealand to remain competitive internationally.
McClay said protected plant varieties were already delivering major export earnings, pointing to kiwifruit and apple exports as examples. In 2024, around 75 per cent of the country’s $3.5 billion kiwifruit export revenue and an estimated 55 per cent of apple export returns came from protected plant varieties.
The ministers said extending protections for varieties such as Zespri SunGold kiwifruit could generate billions of dollars in additional industry revenue over time.
Under the reforms, breeders would also gain immediate legal safeguards during the application process, which can sometimes take several years to complete.
The changes are aimed at encouraging further investment in new crop varieties, including drought-resistant pasture species and higher-yield fruit and produce, while supporting export growth and farm profitability.
Image credit: Francesco Gallarotti
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