121 



STATEMENT 



by 



Dale E. Cochran, President of the 

 National Council of Commercial Plant Breeders 



My name is Dale Cochran, President of Illinois Foundation 

 Seeds, Inc., and President of the National Council of 

 Commercial Plant Breeders. On behalf of the Council, I am 

 pleased to support and reaffirm our endorsement of H.R.2927, 

 a bill to amend the Plant Variety Protection Act of 1993. 



Many hours of discussions, research, and planning have gone 

 into this legislation and the NCCPB appreciates your 

 willingness to bring this issue forward for a thoughtful 

 discussion and, hopefully, a quick resolution. 



The NCCPB has at least two objectives to accomplish as an 

 organization of plant breeders, representing 60+ 6eed 

 companies. 



1. To promote plant breeding, plant genetic research, and 

 related plant improvement disciplines as challenging and 

 interesting careers to help ensure a continuing supply of 

 trained plant scientists. 



2. To support systems of voluntary protection for the 

 private developer or inventor of plant improvements on a 

 worldwide basis 60 that the developer can benefit from the 

 improvement, if he wishes, and provide incentive for further 

 development. 



The Council believes that it is in the best interest of 

 American Agriculture and U.S. policy to join the 1991 UPOV 

 Convention. The reciprocal plant breeders rights* that are 

 offered with adoption of the 1991 UPOV Convention, assures 

 developers and users of protected varieties of clearly 

 defined and internationally accepted standards. 



As supporters of H.R.2927, we recognize the importance of 

 validating intellectual property rights protection. Indeed, 

 the 1991 UPOV Convention outlines standards for protecting 

 plant breeders rights, while at the same time, helping to 

 arm developers of new varieties with the protection and 

 incentive necessary to bring new and improved products to 

 the markets. These new and improved varieties are developed 

 with the sole intent of providing the necessary tools 

 American farmers need to maintain a well recognized 

 dominance of agricultural markets and high performing seed. 

 American plant breeders fully understand their 

 responsibility to the farmer. Providing enhanced seeds that 

 incorporate drought resistance and pest resistance help the 

 farmer to be a responsible steward, while achieving higher 

 yields and performance. 



1991 UPOV Convention Provisions 



The U.S. is a member of the 1978 UPOV Convention and the 

 NCCPB believes it is important to become a member of the 

 1991 UPOV Convention. There are certain changes in the 1991 



