KWS launches licensing ″TraitWay″ to promote innovation in plant breeding

Sharing innovation on fair and reasonable conditions while ensuring adequate Intellectual Property (IP) protection is key for the continuous development of better performing plant varieties. To foster this belief, seed specialist KWS has launched a website providing information on available native traits as well as a simple process to obtain licenses.

In vitro seedlings in the lab

KWS believes that innovation in plant breeding is key to meet the challenges agriculture is facing across the globe – such as climate change, increasing demand for food and political requirements.

As Claudia Hallebach, Head of Global Legal and IP at KWS, states: ″KWS’ long-standing IP position advocates an adequate, future-oriented IP regime that ensures further investment into the continuous development of better performing plant varieties and speeding up innovation in plant breeding. A fair balance between Plant Variety Protection (PVP) and Patents is essential to achieve this″.

In the light of the ongoing debate on patentability of native traits in Europe, KWS has set up a website committed to simple and transparent access to KWS native traits including respective information. Via a catalogue, KWS offers its native trait related patent applications and patents for licensing to all interested parties via a standard commercial license agreement.

″KWS supports the development of broader, industry-wide solutions to facilitate access to patented traits via seamless technology transfer in plant breeding. We are a member of the International Licensing Platform Vegetable (ILP) and a strong driver of the Agricultural Crop Licensing Platform (ACLP), which is currently in the process of launching. We believe that the plant breeding industry needs an open and transparent approach for sharing technology and knowledge to tackle future challenges″, says Hagen Duenbostel, CEO of KWS.

KWS ″TraitWay″ provides a catalogue with native traits available. Once breeders identify a trait on the market they wish to work with, a Breeders License can be signed free of charge. Should breeders wish to start commercial activities with the respective trait, royalties need to be negotiated and agreed on bilaterally. With a standard commercial license agreement, selling of own varieties featuring the KWS native trait is possible.

Further information on KWS ″TraitWay″ licensing can be found on the website.