International Webinar on “DUS-testing Data Management/ Automation/ Image Analysis” were successfully conducted on two consecutive days i.e., on October 6th and 7th, 2020 in cooperation with DAC&FW, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India and the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV&FRA) in Delhi in the frame of the Indo-German Co-operation Project on Seed Sector Development. The project is part of the bilateral cooperation programme of the German Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) and implemented by the consortium of ADT Project Consulting GmbH (ADT) and German Plant Breeders’ Association (BDP). Technical partner in Germany is also the German Federal Plant Variety Office (Bundessortenamt (BSA)).

The aim of these Webinars was to exchange experience and know-how on administrative, technical and legal aspects of DUS data management between the experts of PPV&FRA, the BSA and further stakeholders involved in plant breeding activities in India and Germany.

More than 280 seed sector experts (i.e. DAC&FW, PPV&FRA, ICAR, BSA, ADT, representatives of DUS-Testing centres in India, representatives of the seed industry such as the National Seed Association of India (NSAI), the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) and the German Plant Breeders’ Association (BDP) attended both Webinars.

DUS-testing is a way of determining whether a newly bred variety differs from existing varieties within the same species (Distinctness), whether the characteristics used to establish Distinctness are expressed uniformly (Uniformity) and that these characteristics do not change over subsequent generations (Stability). DUS testing of varieties is one of the key requirements for granting Plant Breeders’ Rights. The DUS test generates a description of the variety detailing its relevant characteristics (morphological and other features). DUS data management is requiring an extensive databases and software for comparing varieties.

The technical program of the Webinars covered various topics such as:

• Manual DUS data management versus software data management;
• Administrative aspects and external access to the DUS database at BSA in Germany: “From application to registration to deletion of a variety”;
• Internal DUS data management at BSA in Germany;
• Value of using single plant data for decision making on uniformity during DUS data analysis in India;
• Collecting, analysing and managing DUS data on perennial species through onsite evaluation in India;
• Image analysis in selected crops- Experience at BSA in Germany;
• Linking DUS test results in new web portal of PPV&FRA;
• Knowledge Management System for DUS Characterisation, ICAR-IASRI, New Delhi;
• Legal aspects in DUS testing in India;
• Sharing experiences & views of Indian and German private seed Industry (representatives of FSII, NSAI, BDP).

All speakers from public and private seed sector provided excellent presentations and information on the topics above. Many other participants contributes to an fruitful discussion.

In collaboration with DAC-FW, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India, Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV&FRA), New Delhi, the ICAR-IIWBR in Karnal and the Indo-German Bilateral Cooperation on Seed Sector Development funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), a 2-day International Workshop on “DUS testing of Wheat and Barley” was organized at the Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research (ICAR-IIWBR) in Karnal, Haryana on February 19-20, 2020.

The aim of this workshop was to exchange know-how and experiences on procedures and technical methods for DUS testing (Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability) of Wheat and Barley.

About 40 seed sector experts attended the workshop. The workshop was chaired by Dr. Vinod Prabhu, Chairperson of PPV&FRA in Delhi and Dr. Gyanendra Singh, Director of ICAR-IIWBR in Karnal. In addition, Dr. T. K. Nagarathna, Registrar at PPV&FRA, Mr. Dipal Roy Choudhary & other PPV&FRA staff also attended. Dr. Sowmini Sunkara (National Project Coordinator, Indo- German Cooperation on Seed sector project) also participated and supported the organization of the workshop.

Dr. Arun Gupta, Principal Investigator of DUS project on Wheat, IIWBR, Karnal and Dr. Charan Singh, Principal Investigator of DUS project on Barley, IIWBR, Karnal provided at the beginning an overview about the situation on DUS testing of wheat and barley in India.

From the German Federal Plant Variety Office (Bundessortenamt), Mr. Ralf Roessler, Head of Section DUS testing of cereals of BSA, was speaker of the workshop. Along with him, Dr. Elmar Weissmann, senior seed sector expert of Germany contributed with his experiences.

The technical program of the workshop covered various topics such as:

• PVP system in India;
• DUS testing of wheat and barley in India;
• Selection of reference varieties and database maintenance;
• DUS testing of cereal crops in Germany;
• Hybrid DUS testing procedures in India;
• Testing of the sterility of A-lines (CMS) – Experiences and approaches in Germany;
• Technologies & tools on DUS-testing used for wheat and barley;
• General views and experiences of plant breeders on DUS/VCU testing;
• Interaction session with scientists and representatives from private and public seed sectors involved in DUS testing activities of cereals.

All speakers provided excellent presentations, information and recommendations on the topics. During the second day visits of DUS testing fields of wheat and barley as well as practical demonstration and discussions on best practices of DUS testing of wheat and barley completed the program. The workshop was very much appreciated by the participants, the speakers and the organizers.

The project “Indo-German Cooperation on Seed Sector Development” is part of the bilateral cooperation programme of the German Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) and implemented by the consortium of ADT Project Consulting GmbH and German Plant Breeders’ Association.

In collaboration with DAC-FW, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India, Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV&FRA), New Delhi and the Indo-German Bilateral Cooperation on Seed Sector Development funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), a 2-day International Workshop on “DUS testing of Rapeseed and Mustard” was organized at the Directorate of Rapeseed-Mustard Research (DRMR) in Bharatpur, Rajasthan on February 13-14, 2020.

The aim of this workshop was to exchange know-how and experiences on procedures and technical methods for DUS testing (Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability) of Rapeseed & Mustard.

About 40 seed sector experts attended the workshop. The workshop was chaired by Dr. Vinod Prabhu, Chairperson of PPV&FRA in Delhi and Dr. PK Rai, Director, DRMR, Bharatpur, Rajasthan. In addition, Dr. Ravi Prakash (Registrar of PPV&FRA), Mr. Dipal Roy Choudhary & other PPV&FRA staff also attended. Dr. Sowmini Sunkara (National Project Coordinator, Indo- German Cooperation on Seed sector project) also participated and supported the organization of the workshop.

From the German Federal Plant Variety Office (Bundessortenamt), Mr. Thomas Gildemeister was speaker of the workshop. Along with him, Dr. Elmar Weissmann, senior seed sector expert of Germany contributed with his experiences.

The technical program of the workshop covered various topics such as:

• PVP system in India;
• DUS testing of rapeseed & mustard in India;
• Selection of reference varieties and database maintenance;
• DUS testing of oilseed crops in Germany;
• Hybrid DUS testing procedures in India;
• Technologies & tools on DUS-testing used for rapeseed and mustard including data transfer from DUS station to BSA headquarters;
• General views and experiences of plant breeders on DUS/VCU testing;
• Interaction session with scientists and representatives from private and public seed sectors involved in DUS testing activities of oilseed crops.

All speakers provided excellent presentations, information and recommendations on the topics. During the second day visits of DUS testing fields of rapeseed and mustard as well as practical demonstration and discussions on best practices of DUS testing of oilseed crops completed the program. The workshop was very much appreciated by the participants, the speakers and the organizers.

Video filming activities on production of high quality seed of paddy and maize (2 prominent crops of hybrid seed production in India) is taken up since November 2019 in Warangal District in Telangana State with the support of the project Indo-German Cooperation On Seed Sector Development in cooperation with the Telangana State Seed Certification Agency (TSSOCA) and other stakeholders involved in the seed value chain. These videos will be specifically useful for capacity building programmes to seed farmers showcasing all with best practices and methodologies to be followed during entire crop cycle as well as post-harvest practices during Rabi seed production.

Dr. Raghavendra Kavali, National Project Coordinator, Indo-German Cooperation on Seed Sector Development, Mob: +91 733 722 5886, Email: kavali-raghavendra-adt@outlook.com

In collaboration with DAC-FW, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India, PPV&FR Authority, New Delhi and the Indo-German Bilateral Co-operation on Seed Sector Development funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), a Joint Workshop on “Post Plant Variety Protection Control of Registered Varieties and Implementation of Plant Breeders’ Rights” was organized in Delhi on December 17, 2019.

The aim of this workshop was to exchange experience and know-how on different aspects of Post Plant Variety Protection Control of Registered Varieties and also on methods of effective implementation of Plant Breeders’ Rights in India. In this regard, this joint workshop was conducted to provide a basis for mutual exchange of knowledge on methodologies followed in India while comparing / sharing the experiences of Germany/ EU. During this workshop, each topic was thoroughly elaborated, discussed and debated between the Indian and German experts which motivated the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV&FRA) of India to further plan few more deliberations on this theme which can be helpful for further elaborations through upcoming bilateral workshops during the current phase.

About 50 seed sector experts attended the workshop. The workshop was chaired by Dr. Vinod Prabhu, Chairperson of PPV&FRA in Delhi and Dr. Nagaratna (Registrar of PPV&FRA) and Dr. Sowmini Sunkara (national project coordinator) supported the organization of the workshop.

From the German Federal Plant Variety Office (BSA), Mrs. Friedhilde Trautwein and Dr. Kerstin Diekmann participated. In addition, Dr. Elmar Weissmann and Johannes Peter Angenendt representatives of the German private plant breeding companies as well as the German Team Leader Mr. Ekkehard Schroeder participated. The 4 German technical experts covered the following topics:

1. Overview of main elements of PVP in Germany/EU including post PVP control of registered varieties
2. Granting of plant breeders’ rights (PBR) and the effect for the owner/holder of this intellectual property right
3. System and regulation of monitoring the maintenance of protected plant varieties in Germany/EU
4. Areas and procedures of collaboration of regional public organizations responsible for seed certification and marketing control of seed in Germany and BSA at central level responsible for monitoring and maintenance of plant varieties in Germany
5. Overview legal framework and basis of seed production in Germany
6. How to manage the intellectual property right successfully as plant breeder in Germany/EU
7. Experience with Seed Trust Administration Ltd. (STV-Saatgut-Treuhandverwaltung GmbH) – private organization for persecution of infringements of PVP in Germany
8. Typical private-law agreements (license agreements) between plant breeders (PVP holders) and licensed party in Germany
9. Monitoring of license agreement in Germany/EU
10. Experience with the collection of royalties from farmer saved seed in Germany including the management of data necessary for the traceability of the activities of the licensed party