Lesotho convened regional partners and agricultural experts to advance the protection of new plant varieties, with officials linking stronger intellectual property systems to food security and climate resilience across Africa.
Lesotho brought together agricultural experts, government officials, and regional partners on Wednesday for a symposium focused on protecting new plant varieties and strengthening food security across Africa.
The event was organised by the Ministry of Law and Justice through the Office of the Registrar General, working with the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO). It was held under the theme: “Nurturing Agricultural Innovation, Advancing the Protection of New Plant Varieties for Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture in Africa.”
The symposium gathered officials from government, agricultural specialists, intellectual property experts, development partners, and stakeholders from across the region. Their main goal was to discuss how to better protect new plant varieties and put the Arusha Protocol into practice.
Breeders’ rights at the heart of agricultural innovation
Officially opening the meeting, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition, Selibe Mochoboroane said protecting new plant varieties is key to driving innovation and attracting investment in agriculture.
He explained that plant variety protection gives plant breeders exclusive rights over new varieties they develop, as long as those varieties are distinct, uniform, and stable. This means that when a breeder creates a new type of maize, bean, or vegetable that is different from what already exists, they can benefit from their work.
“By giving innovators these rights, we encourage them to keep investing time and resources into research and development. This leads to better seeds, higher yields, and crops that can withstand drought, pests, and changing weather patterns.”
The minister noted that the symposium shows Lesotho’s commitment to working with other countries in the region on intellectual property and agricultural growth.
Arusha Protocol to streamline cross-border protection
He said Lesotho is currently in the process of domesticating the Arusha Protocol for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants. The protocol aims to create a single, harmonised system for plant variety protection among ARIPO member states. This would make it easier for breeders to protect their work across several countries at once, instead of applying separately in each country.
Once in place, the system is expected to make it simpler and faster for farmers in Lesotho and the region to access improved seed varieties, which can help increase food production and income.
Mochoboroane also connected the symposium to the work of His Majesty King Letsie III, who has been a strong advocate for nutrition and food security. He said that building a more resilient agricultural sector and supporting continuous innovation are essential if Lesotho and other African countries want to tackle malnutrition and cope with the effects of climate change.
“Without new and improved varieties, our farmers will struggle to keep up with challenges like erratic rainfall, new pests, and poor soils. Protecting innovation gives us a better chance to feed our people and grow our economy.”
Participants at the symposium agreed that stronger plant variety protection systems can help Africa reduce its dependence on imported seeds, support local breeders, and improve food security in the long term.
