Japan Strengthens Plant Variety Protection: The 2026 Amendment to the Seed and Seedling Act - Extending breeders' rights and closing the pre-registration leakage gap
Japan has long been a source of premium, painstakingly bred agricultural varieties — from the ruby-red strawberry cultivar Beni-hoppe to the seedless grape Shine Muscat, whose export value has been eroded for years by “unauthorized” cultivation abroad after cuttings or seedlings left the country before, or shortly after, variety registration.
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