Our initiatives to improve PBR
There are many initiatives underway with the aim to reform and improve PBR services and processes. These include:
- dedicated review and reform program to explore Australia’s plant breeding ecosystem and the role of PBR
- ongoing policy development and legislation agenda
- information technology systems modernisation
- improvements to PBR processes, forms and information
- increasing public education and awareness
- improving the customer experience.
Review and reform of the plant breeder's rights system
We’ve successfully completed the research phase of our PBR reform program. Our research focused on the importance of PBR in the plant breeding ecosystem and identified where there are opportunities for improvement across different aspects of the PBR system. This phase has provided us with valuable insights and data, allowing us to better understand the challenges faced by PBR applicants and customers and the opportunities for change.
Although the research phase is now complete, PBR reform work has not stopped. We’re continuing to investigate and prioritise the next phase of reform implementation to improve the PBR system for applicants and customers.
Our research is particularly focused on the Australian Industries and the Australian economy. However, our place in the global landscape is also critically important for PBR.
Australia is a member of the 1991 International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV Convention). Australia is committed to maintaining a system of plant variety protection with the features agreed in the UPOV Convention.
Issues relating to importing and exporting plant varieties and products are also front of mind in our review. These are very important when considering any future directions or impacts.
What we've done
We've undertaken a number of activities to help improve our PBR system.
Case studies
We've heard that real life case studies can be helpful for people to understand the benefits of a PBR, and how it can apply to their business. To help you gain a greater insight into what they are and how they work, we've created some engaging case studies as educational resources.
PBR Search
In May 2023 we launched a new look and feel Australian PBR Search.
List of reform activities
The following tabs explore various reports and activities we've undertaken as part of the PBR reform program. We encourage you to explore the details of the activity including reports and summaries.
In August 2023 over 50 PBR stakeholders participated in workshops focused on timeframes in the PBR application and examination process.
- Purpose: These workshops explored ideas for reforms to address various issues.
- Released: 2023
Read the PBR Examination Timeframes Workshop slide deck
Read the PBR Examination Timeframes Workshop outcomes and findings
In November and December 2022, over 40 Qualified Persons attended workshops with us to discuss the current processes in PBR and ideas for the future.
- Purpose: The report presents the findings from workshops that were focused on testing our research findings directly with QPs, capturing feedback and perspectives from QPs, and working with them to explore ideas for the future.
- Released: 2023.
We partnered with Swinburne University’s Centre for Transformative Innovation to conduct research about the economic impact of PBR. The research found:
- Purpose: We wanted to get a better understanding of the users of Australia's PBR system and economic impact of PBR.
- Released: 2022.
Read the PBR economic impact report
Visual summary of the economic report
We partnered again with Swinburne University’s Centre for Transformative Innovation to conduct a survey focused on the costs of pursuing a PBR and how PBR incentivises investment and commercialisation of new plant varieties.
- Purpose: Understanding the economic impact of plant breeder's rights in Australia and review the costs and economic benefits of PBRs in Australia (summary).
- Released: 2023.
The report of this study and a visual summary, are now available.
In 2022 we commissioned reports to explore the evidence base for changes to the PBR legislation.
Purpose: The reports cover the following topic areas:
- information notice scheme
- exhaustion of PBR
- harvested material
- labelling requirements
- plant variety names and synonyms
- essentially derived varieties (EDVs).
Released: 2022.
Between October 2021 and early January 2022, we held 70 interviews with people and businesses directly involved in plant breeding or playing a role in the broader plant breeding ecosystem.
At the same time, the team had another 30 targeted conversations with people and organisations who had different connections with the PBR system.
- Purpose: The report provides a snapshot of the feedback and consultation, summarising a wide variety of perspectives and concerns.
- Released: 2022.
Director General’s Australasian Plant Breeding Conference speech
Watch our Director General, Michael Schwager, present a review of PBR, intellectual property and the agricultural economy at the 2022 conference.
What we are working towards
There is a lot of work to do!
We're continuing to make improvements to your overall experience with us. This includes reviewing and improving our forms and correspondence and the way we communicate with you throughout the PBR application, grant and renewal processes. As we progress, we’ll continue to focus our work on:
- administration of the PBR system
- forms and correspondence
- improving the customer experience
- updating information technology systems
- PBR education and awareness.
We’d like to thank all our stakeholders that have engaged with us and contributed to the research phase of our reform program. Your involvement has helped shape our research and reform priorities moving forward.
If you’d like to learn more about our PBR work, get in touch with our PBR reform team.