The Breeders’ Alliance engaged with Peruvian authorities to strengthen enforcement of plant breeders’ rights in the country
The Breeders’ Alliance, made up of Bloom Fresh, Sun World International, and Grapa Global, met with senior Peruvian officials from various public institutions at the end of last year to discuss challenges and solutions for the effective enforcement of plant breeders’ rights (PBR) in Peru.
The mission was supported by Ciopora (the International Association of Breeders of Asexually Reproduced Horticultural Plants) and Provid (the Peruvian Table Grape Growers Association).
During the first days of December, the delegation met with representatives of the National Institute for the Defence of Free Competition and the Protection of Intellectual Property (Indecopi),the National Institute of Agricultural Innovation (Inia), plant health authority Senasa, and the general secretariat of the Andean Community, among other institutions responsible for intellectual property and plant breeders’ rights.
The delegates discussed the significant recent growth of Peru’s table grape industry, driven primarily by high-performing varieties. In particular, the total exported table grape production area in Peru increased from 17,683ha in 2016 to 23,320ha in 2025, while protected varieties rose from representing 11 per cent of total production in 2016 to 78 per cent in 2025.
The increased use of high-quality protected varieties is also closely correlated with the strong growth in table grape exports. According to Provid, table grape exports during the 2024/25 campaign reached US$2.06bn, with new varieties playing an increasingly significant role in export value.
The mission emphasized the importance of establishing an effective PBR enforcement system to protect and encourage continued investment in the sector, thereby supporting its sustained development and long-term growth.
“These high-level meetings underscored the essential role of collaboration between breeders and authorities in building an effective PBR protection framework, taking into account the specific context of the industry as well as the available enforcement channels and tools,” Ciopora said.
According to Alanna Rennie of The Breeders’ Alliance, “strong legal frameworks are essential, but they must also be supported by practical tools that ensure compliance and enforcement. Only then can breeders continue developing innovative varieties that meet consumer expectations and compete globally”.
Micaela Filippo, vice secretary general of Ciopora, explained: “Ciopora acts as a platform to align all stakeholders around a common objective: promoting innovation while ensuring that breeders’ work is properly protected”.
Luis Miguel Vegas, general manager of Provid, said Peru’s table grape industry had made a qualitative leap thanks to the confidence of international breeders who have invested in the country. “For Provid, full respect for PBRs is a strategic commitment to innovation and national competitiveness. Protecting breeders means protecting the future of our industry and consolidating Peru’s position as a reliable global partner,” he stated.
Diego Ortega Sanabria of Indecopi reaffirmed “the ongoing commitment to defending PBRs for new plant varieties, highlighting the implementation of guidelines for inspections and the use of DNA analysis to substantiate infringements”.
All parties involved in this initiative agreed to establish a collaborative work programme with Peruvian authorities on PBR enforcement, with the aim of supporting continued investment and growth in Peru’s table grape industry and further strengthening its position as a modern and innovative agri-food powerhouse.
Click here for more information about Fruitnet Grape Congress.
