Plant variety experts, business leaders, and intellectual property professionals from China, the Netherlands and other countries participated in a series of dialogues on policy, breeding technology, judicial protection, financial implications and industrial implementation. They agreed that an internationally aligned system for protecting variety rights is a prerequisite for breeders to bring their best varieties to market.
During the recent 24th edition of the China Kunming International Flower Expo the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to China brought together over 130 breeding experts, business leaders, and intellectual property professionals from China, the Netherlands and other countries to participate in a series of dialogues on the laws, regulations, and practices regarding the protection of new plant varieties. Five key areas were covered: policy, breeding technology, judicial protection, financial implications and industrial implementation.
In the dialogues, the seed industry was positioned as the core chip of modern agriculture and the foundation of the flower industry's ability to go global. Experts from the Netherlands shared the latest developments in Dutch variety rights protection and the country's closed-loop regulatory model.
Deputy Ambassador at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to China Tsjeard Hoekstra noted as well that an internationally aligned system for protecting variety rights is a prerequisite for breeders to bring their best varieties to market.
Li Shenchong, Director of the Flower Research Institute at the Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, called on the entire industry to respect breeding innovation, standardize variety trading, strengthen the protection of achievements, and deepen open cooperation. This ambition is part of the Initiative on Innovation and Protection of New Plant Varieties (Flowers) in China.
Deputy Ambassador Tsjeard Hoekstra speaking during one of the dialogues
Exploring common ground
A separate section of the dialogue focused on the application of artificial intelligence and robotics in the flower industry with Chinese and Dutch experts sharing insights based on their practical experience in applying AI crop models. While the Netherlands is a giant in the flower sector, its limited land area has been the driving force behind its continuous research into high-efficiency cultivation methods.
Erik Smidt, Counsellor for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in China stressed that the dialogue shows that doing business in China is never a solitary endeavor, but rather a collaborative effort to pursue development alongside trusted partners. Dutch and Chinese enterprises in the floriculture industry have built a friendship spanning over two decades through collaborative efforts; moving forward, they will continue to join forces, combining cultivation expertise with AI and robotics to usher in a new phase of development.
This same sense of collaboration was expressed during the dialogue focusing on plant variety rights within the China-Netherlands flower supply chain. One of the insights during this exchange is that protection of variety rights concerns not only breeders but also stakeholders involved in sales and distribution.
Bringing a new flower variety from initial selection to market launch involves overcoming numerous hurdles; a stable variety rights system aligned with international standards is a prerequisite for breeders to introduce their best varieties to the market. The same logic applies to facilities and equipment for modern cultivation: Dutch greenhouse technology has spent decades moving towards lower inputs and higher outputs. A journey driven by the gradual integration of sensors, algorithms, and cultivation expertise. By incorporating AI capabilities and robotic systems, this progress can be accelerated.
If your company is interested in connecting with Dutch flower and greenhouse horticulture businesses, or if you would like information on events in the Dutch agricultural sector, please contact PEK-LVVN@minbuza.nl.