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Information from the British Society of Plant Breeders Autumn 2016Plant Breeding MattersPlant Breeding Matters

P R O M O T I N G I N N O V A T I O N I N P L A N T B R E E D I N G

Given the high level of pan-EU activity inplant breeding, variety registration, seedsmarketing and other crop-related researchand innovation, these discussions willdetermine the extent to which UKindependence marks a significantdeparture from current trading, R&D andregulatory arrangements.

Whatever the outcome, Britain’sfarmers will need continued access to thebenefits of improved crop varieties,tailored to UK conditions, to maintain thesector’s competitiveness, resilience andsustainability on a global stage.

Since the EU referendum vote in June,BSPB has acted swiftly to assess thespecific implications for the UK plantbreeding industry, to seek legal advice onhow Brexit might affect key issues such as

Brexit priorities for UK plant breedersThe UK’s decision to leave the EU brings an inevitable period of flux and uncertainty over precisely whatthe future holds for British agriculture in terms of support policies, trading arrangements, farmingregulations and access to labour. The outlook for the plant breeding and seeds sector will depend criticallyon these discussions and the wider negotiations taking place on the UK’s future relationship with the EUand the Single Market.

Plant Variety Rights and varietyregistration, and to consult widely acrossthe membership.

More than ever, it is vital that UKpolicy makers – and particularly thoseresponsible for setting and negotiating theconditions of Brexit – understand thevalue and importance of supporting avibrant, locally-based plant breedingindustry, not only for the competitivenessof our farming and food industries butalso for the wider economy, for our healthand quality of life, and for theenvironment.

BSPB has identified five key Brexitpriorities, and is engagingproactively with the UKGovernment, other industryorganisations and EU partners to

promote the specific conditions andrequirements for a competitive andinnovative British plant breeding industryoutside the EU. Continued on the back page

Specialist IP lawyer Joel Smith wasoptimistic about the opportunities for theUK’s £14.8bn agri-tech sector to harnessa rapidly advancing knowledge base ingenetics, precision engineering and datascience to drive growth and innovationacross the £108bn agri-food chain.

In particular, he highlighted thepotential for the UK to rebalance R&Dinvestment and reinvigorate the sciencebase in the crop protection andbiotechnology sectors, where progresshad been stifled by a politicised and over-

precautionary EU regulatory regime. But Mr Smith, a partner at law firm

Herbert Smith Freehills, which hosted theseminar, emphasised the need for effectiveIP protection to exploit theseopportunities, particularly in relation tothe development of new crop varietiesand breeding tools. He identified threekey challenges ahead for protectinginnovation in the plant breeding sector.

The first, immediate priority was tounderstand the implications of Brexit andensure a seamless transfer of Plant Variety

Rights protection from EU to UK level. Secondly, there was a need to

recognise that plant breeding methods arechanging and that alternative IP modelsmay be needed to sustain investment andinnovation, for example in relation tonew genome editing and traitdevelopment techniques. This wouldinclude identifying potential solutions toensure compatibility of PVR with otherIP rights such as patents, copyright, tradesecrets and data protection.

The third challenge identified by

The next 50 years

The past 50 years have seen majorchanges in UK crop production: adoubling of cereal yields and sugarproduction, and a reversal of theUK’s historical dependence onimported bread wheat; oilseed rapeestablished as the break crop ofchoice, and forage maize adapted toUK growing conditions.

The pace of change continuestoday, with major advances in

quality wheat yields, healthiervarieties of barley, oats, beans andoilseed rape, improved plantarchitecture in field peas, thedevelopment of new herbicidetolerance and hybrid breedingsystems, and new sources of pestand disease resistance introducedinto UK varieties.

Through continuous investmentand innovation, plant breeding has

underpinned these changes bydeveloping improved varieties tomeet constantly changingagronomic, market and policydemands.

To mark the Society’s halfcentury, this issue of Plant BreedingMatters charts a timeline of keydevelopments in the plant breedingsector, alongside significant worldnews events and statistics.

It is 50 years since BSPB’s predecessor body, the Plant Royalty Bureau, was established to collect seedroyalties on behalf of plant breeders. Today, BSPB combines royalty collection with a broader role inindustry representation and the organisation of variety trials.

As part of its 50 year celebrations, BSPB also hosted a recent seminar in London at which three guestspeakers were invited to consider some of the factors likely to influence the plant breeding industry overthe next 50 years, from future developments in IP protection to global trends in food production andconsumer attitudes towards new breeding technologies.

BSPB marks 50 years – 1966-2016

Worldpopulation3.4 billion

Bobby Moore leadsEngland’s footballers tovictory in the 1966World Cup

Plant Royalty Bureau formedafter UK enacts the PlantVarieties & Seeds Act 1964,establishing a legalframework to collect royaltieson protected crop varieties

1966 1967UK produced3.5 tonnes ofwheat at£22.62/t

1968

Concorde makes its maiden flightin March

Neil Armstrong becomes first manto walk on the moon in July

1969

Britain goesdecimal inFebruary

Ted Heath takesthe UK into theEEC

1973-76: Seed certification schemes becomestatutory in the UK as part of EC accessionarrangements

Pint of beercosts 10p

1970 1971Wimbledon men’ssingles prizemoney £5,000

1972 1973Average UKhouse price£10,208

1974 1975

Introduction of monogermsugar beet seed paves theway to total mechanisationof the crop

Norman Borlaug wins NobelPrize in recognition of hiswheat breeding achievementsand the alleviation of hungeraround the world

Wheat variety Maris Huntsmanoffers 20% yield advantage overprevious market leader CapelleDesprez

Plant Royalty Bureau movespremises from Regent Streetin Cambridge to new officesin Market Street, Ely

Britain declares a state ofemergency and introduces athree day week in January1974 following industrialaction by coal workers

Mr Smith was the need to resolve thelong-term issue of access to plant geneticresources by standardising anincreasingly complex web ofinternational treaties and inter-countryarrangements intended to promote accessand benefit-sharing.

Kevin Gorman, Scientific AffairsManager at UK-based technologycompany Oxitec Ltd, described thedevelopment and application of GMinsect technology to control mosquitoesin areas where they are vectors for

human diseases such as Dengue feverand the Zika virus.

By releasing males of a self-limitingstrain of the Aedes aegypti mosquito –whose offspring die before reachingadulthood after mating with wildfemales – he explained that thetechnology was capable of reducing thewild population below the level neededto transmit disease. Field trials in Brazil,Panama and the Cayman Islands hadachieved more than 90% suppression ofthe mosquito population, a globalsuccess story for UK-developedtechnology.

Mr Gorman indicated that this was arapidly advancing scientific field, withnew techniques allowing geneticsegregation of males and the potentialapplication of targeted ‘gene drive’technology to induce rapid and persistentspread of mortality within a species. Headded that Oxitec’s focus over the nextfive years would include a strong moveinto agricultural markets, wherelaboratory examples of game-

changing technologies were just a fewyears away.

Given the wider controversiessurrounding GM technology, Mr Gormanalso provided valuable insights intoeffective public outreach and engagement,which needed to be case-specific,transparent and proactive, focused onthe benefits for individual people andcommunities, and delivered by locally-based champions.

Rounding off the presentations,Allan Wilkinson, head of food andagriculture at HSBC Bank plc, predicteda very positive future for plant breedinginnovation in the years to come, as thecombined impact of population growth,pressure on finite land and waterresources, and a shift in affluence fromWest to East would place unprecedenteddemands on global food production andtrade.

But while the pace of change inagricultural technologies was set toaccelerate, the food supply chain

would be subject toincreased scrutiny

The plant IP landscape is evolving asnew technologies emerge; PVR willneed to co-exist harmoniously withpatents, copyright, trade secret anddata protection to incentivise andreward innovation

Game changing technologies like Oxitec’s genetic approaches to controlling mosquito-borne human diseases such as Dengue and Zika may soon have agricultural application


Golden Promise, bred in theearly 1960s using gamma raymutation, is the UK’s leadingspring malting barley variety

Late-1970s: Introduction of‘single-low’ oilseed rape varietiessupports major UK expansion ofthe crop in response to CAPsupport incentives

Development of semi-leafless fieldpeas revitalises an importanthome grown protein source

Virus-resistanttobacco plantbecomes thefirst GM cropapproved forfield release inthe USA

State-bredvarietiescommand an80% share ofthe UK winterwheat market

UK flourmillers’ usageof home-grown wheatexceeds 80%for the firsttime

1977UK produced6.6m tonnes ofwheat at£91.98/t

1978 1979Pint of beercosts 34p



1985 1

Virginia WadewinsWimbledon inthe Queen’sSilver Jubileeyear

MargaretThatcherbecomesBritain’s firstwoman PrimeMinister

Who shot JR?The questioneveryone wasasking

Live Aid raised£40 million forfamine relief

Gotcha! How The Sunnewspaper (in)famouslyreported the sinking of theBelgrano as the Falklandsconflict dominated thenews agenda

1976 1984

Meet the BSPB team: Tony Richardson, Field Officer

Based in rural North Yorkshire, Tonyprovides a local point of contact for seedmerchants, processors and farmers on allseed royalty and licensing issues. He ispart of BSPB’s dedicated team of auditorswhose role is to check that royalty incomecollected by BSPB each year tallies withthe amount of certified seed produced andsold by licensed seed merchants, and withthe farm-saved seed declarations receivedfrom seed processors and individualfarmers.

Together the audit team covers manythousands of miles each year to carry outinspections at the premises of licensedmerchants and seed processors.

A former farm inspector with theRural Payments Agency, Tony believesthere is widespread recognition of the

need to support continued innovation inplant breeding.

“One of BSPB’s main tasks is tocollect royalties on certified and farm-saved seed. This is the investment streambreeders and their customers depend onfor future crop improvement. Fieldofficers are in the front-line for BSPB indealing with farmers and the seed trade,and the vast majority of people I dealwith are co-operative and supportive ofthe need to maintain investment in UK-based plant breeding.”

Outside of work Tony pursues a widerange of interests including shooting,fishing and home renovation. Tony isalso a lifelong vintage tractor andmachinery enthusiast and has completedseveral large restoration projects.

Tony Richardson joined the BSPB Executive in April 2016 as Field Officer for Northern England, NorthernIreland and Scotland, taking over from Henry Taylor who has left the Society after 11 years in the post.

from consumers taking a greater interestin the provenance of their food, andseeking responsible participation by thefood industry. Rapidly changing patternsof food purchasing and consumption, suchas on-the-go and on-line, as well as theimpact of social media, would bring afurther transfer of power from retailers toconsumers.

In short, science would have a greaterrole than ever in meeting the world’sfuture food needs, said Mr Wilkinson, butsuccessful innovation would beconcentrated in the hands of fewerplayers, with a much sharper focus onmeeting consumer expectations in terms ofhealth, nutrition, labelling and openness.

Plant breeders should be mindful of the growing interest in food provenance and thetransfer of power from retailer to consumer


EGM of the PlantRoyalty Bureauapprovesmerger withBAPB to formthe BritishSociety of PlantBreeders

Virus-resistant potato becomes thefirst GM crop to undergo field trials inthe UK

Plant Breeding Institute sold toUnilever, marking the end of UKpublic sector involvement inmainstream commercial breeding

Late-1980s:Introduction of‘double-low’oilseed rapevarieties deliversimproved end-usequality for foodand animal feed

UPOV Conventionrevised torecognise the rightof plant breeders torecover a royalty onfarm-saved seed ofprotected cropvarieties

Domestic foragemaize areaexceeds100,000ha thanksto breedingsuccess inadapting the cropto UK growingconditions

EU Plant VarietyRightsintroduced andCommunityPlant VarietyOfficeestablished atAngers inFrance

986 1987UK produced11.7m tonnes ofwheat at£114.19/t

1988 1989Pint of beercosts £1.14



1994 1995

Maradona’s‘Hand of God’dumps Englandout of the 1986World Cupfinals

In October 1987, Met Office weatherforecasters failed to spot the onsetof Britain’s worst storm for over 250years, which claimed 19 lives andcost £1.5 billion to clear up

Fall of the BerlinWall in 1989marks thesymboliccollapse ofCommunism andthe Cold War

On 11 February1990, anti-apartheidcampaigner NelsonMandela wasreleased after 27years in jail

Britain launchesthe NationalLottery inNovember 1994

Oil giant Shellcaved in toGreenpeacepressure andabandonedplans to dumpits Brent Sparoil rig at sea

UK crashes outof the EuropeanExchange RateMechanism inSeptember 1992after interestrates rose to15%

Interest in the use of cover crops amongarable farmers has increased recently inresponse to CAP greening requirementsand as research has demonstrated therotational benefits of cover crops for soilquality, reduced nutrient losses, andimproved weed and disease management.

This renewed interest has beenreflected in an increasing number ofqueries received by BSPB from individualfarmers in relation to the use ofcombinable crops such as peas, oats andbarley in cover crop mixtures.

BSPB is therefore advising farmersand their advisers that seeds regulationsand farm-saved seed rules applyregardless of whether a crop is taken toharvest, and that when sowing a covercrop mixture which includes seed of PVRprotected varieties, farmers must useeither new seed purchased from a licensedseed merchant or farm-saved seedproduced on their own holding.

Under the FSS rules, farmers cannotsell, barter, exchange or in any other waytransfer farm-saved seed betweenholdings.

In addition, the use of eligible varietiesas farm-saved seed in cover crops must bedeclared to BSPB and FSS payment madeaccording to the proportion of eligiblevarieties in the mixture and the area sown.A list of eligible varieties and paymentrates by crop species is available on theFSS section of the BSPB website, orfarmers can contact the BSPB helpline on01353 653209 for advice.

Farmers purchasing new seed for useas cover crops should ensure that this iscertified seed bought from a licensed seedmerchant (for peas, oats and barley) or ifthey are buying a cover crop mixturewhich may include a combination ofregulated and unregulated species, that thebag carries an official green label stating‘mixture of seed for green cover’.

FSS rules apply to cover cropsAs part of the FAIR PLAY campaign, BSPB is reminding growers that using farm-saved seed of eligiblevarieties in cover crop mixtures is subject to the same seed regulations and FSS rules as harvested crops.

BSPB chief executive Dr PennyMaplestone said:

“The FAIR PLAY campaign wasestablished by BSPB and the farmingunions to promote a collaborative,industry-wide approach to ensuring allfarmers contribute fairly for the economicbenefits of using farm-saved seed.

“By ensuring farmers are clear aboutthe rules on FSS use, the FAIR PLAYcampaign has come a long way intackling the gap in FSS payments andsupporting continued investment in UK-based breeding programmes.

“The need for genetic innovation hasnever been greater to maintain thecompetitiveness and resilience of UK cropproduction, and it is vital therefore thatall farmers understand their legalobligations on FSS to safeguard thedevelopment of improved varieties, bredfor UK conditions and markets.”


Tony Blair and New Labourcome to power in May 1997after 18 years of ToryGovernment

In October 1999, the LondonEye became a new landmarkon the London skyline

9/11 – NewYork’s TwinTowersdestroyed bytwo hijackedplanes inSeptember2001

CountrysideMarch inLondon –400,000protestedagainstGovernmenthandling ofrural issues

Martin Johnsonleads Englandto victory in the2003 RugbyWorld Cup inAustralia

Thousands diedon Boxing Day2004 after hugewaves crashedinto coastalareas acrosssouth east Asia

London’stransportsystem rockedby terrorattacks in July2005

First collectionof payments onfarm-savedseed by BSPB

UK PlantVarieties Actimplements1991 revisionsto the UPOVConvention

Crop EvaluationLtd establishedas the newvehicle fordelivery ofcereals andoilseedsRecommendedLists

European SeedAssociation(ESA) formed,withheadquarters inBrussels

Perennialryegrass varietyAberDart is thefirst everherbage varietyto win theprestigious NIABVariety Cup

First rhizomania-resistant sugarbeet varietiesavailable to UKgrowers

BSPBestablishes FAIRPLAY campaignto promoteimprovedcompliance onfarm-saved seeddeclaration andpayment

BSP by to ostat tria List

1997UK produced15.4m tonnes ofwheat at £72.12/t


2001Wimbledon men’ssingles prizemoney £525,000


2004 2005Wopop6.5

1996 2000 2006

British Society of Plant Breeders LtdBSPB House, 114 Lancaster Way Business Park, ELY CB6 3NXTel +44(0)1353 653200 Fax +44(0)1353 661156Email [email protected] Website www.bspb.co.uk

Plant Variety Rights (PVR)EU Plant Variety Rights were first introduced in 1995 and virtually all seed royalties on UK-grown cropvarieties are now collected under this EU-wide system. Continued investment in UK plant breeding willdepend on a seamless transfer of all EU-protected varieties to UK-based protection at the point ofBrexit, with the same variety name, priority and duration of rights.

Variety registrationA single application under the current EU-wide variety registration system allows new varieties to belisted on the ‘common catalogue’ and marketed in all EU member states. This system has served theindustry well and supports access to crop innovation – BSPB will seek solutions which minimiseadditional costs and duplication of effort, such as mutual recognition of common catalogue and UK-listed varieties.

Seeds marketingUK seeds marketing legislation is already in place, broadly equivalent to EU-wide standards. BSPB isseeking no significant changes to the current system which has served the industry well and provides anindependent assurance to growers of the purity, quality and varietal integrity of certified seed. Tominimise costs and disruption for all concerned, BSPB will press for mutual recognition of seedmarketing standards and free movement of seed to continue without restriction between the UK and EU.

GM and New Breeding Techniques (NBTs)BSPB has long expressed concerns that research and investment in the development of GM crops andnew genome editing techniques have been stifled by a shift towards unscientific or politically motivatedregulation at EU level. Leaving the EU presents a fresh opportunity for the UK to demonstrate itscommitment to providing an enabling environment for agricultural science and innovation, and that itis a good place to invest post-Brexit.

Research and DevelopmentOur response to the global challenges of food security, climate change and sustainable development willrequire international scientific collaboration and knowledge exchange. From a research perspective, theUK must safeguard access to EU R&D funding programmes, maintain straightforward researchcollaboration between the UK and other EU countries, and enable the UK to continue to contribute toand benefit from the shared resources, data and infrastructure of the pan-European agri-science base.

Apple unveilsthe first iPhonein January 2007

Barack Obamabecomes thefirst black USPresident inNovember 2008

Bank of Englandcuts interestrates to a 315year low inJanuary 2009 asglobal bankingcrisis deepens

Ash fall-out froma volcaniceruption inIceland suspendsall flights in andout of the UK

33 Chilean minersrescued after twomonths trappedunderground

Royal Wedding –Prince William &Kate Middletonwere married atWestminsterAbbey

Osama BinLaden’s death atthe hands of USforces

Diamond Jubileecelebrationsmark theQueen’s 60thyear on thethrone

Andy Murraywins the 2013WimbledonChampionships,the first Britishman to win themen’s singlestitle since FredPerry, 77 yearspreviously

Scotland votesNo in theindependencereferendum

Paris terroratrocities inNovembershocked theworld, whenarmed militantskilled 130 peoplein a series ofattacks acrossthe capital

Brexit – UKvotes toleave the EU

PB licensed UK authorities organisetutory varietyls for Nationalt purposes

NIAB reportshows around90% of theincrease in UKaverage cerealyields over thepast 25 years canbe attributed toinnovation inplant breeding

BSPBstrengthenspresence inScotland withestablishment ofa northern office

DTZ economicimpact reportconcludes thatevery £1 investedin UK plantbreeding adds£40 to the widereconomy

BSPB hosts ISF World Seed Congress 2011 in Belfast

Foresight reporthighlights globalfood securitychallenge and thecritical role ofscience andtechnology indelivering the‘sustainableintensification’ ofagriculture

PVR campaignlaunched jointlyby BSPB and AICto highlight therole of PlantVariety Rights insupportinginvestment andinnovation in theplant breedingand seeds sector

The Society moves offices tonew purpose-built premises atLancaster Way Business Parkon the outskirts of Ely

BSPB launches new PlantBreeding Matters website tohighlight the value andimportance of plant breedinginnovation for everyone

Independentreport byagriculturalconsultantsADAS concludesthat plantbreeding is amajor contributorto moresustainableagriculture andfood production

BSPBmembership of67 plantbreedingcompanies andorganisations isthe highest inthe Society’s 50year history

orldpulation billion

2007UK produced17.5m tonnes ofwheat at £137.87/t


2010 2011Wimbledon men’ssingles prizemoney£1,150,000


2014 2015Worldpopulation7.5 billion

20166

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