Breeders seeking plant variety protection
through the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) can now
submit their applications using the electronic platform UPOV PRISMA- a
tailor-made online tool designed to facilitate plant variety protection (PVP)
applications across PVP Offices worldwide.
This development follows the entry into force
of the Arusha Protocol for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants on 24
November 2024, a key highlight in strengthening intellectual property
frameworks for agriculture and horticulture across Africa. The current
Contracting States to the Protocol include Cabo Verde, Ghana, Rwanda, and São
Tomé and Príncipe.
Celebrating the milestone, ARIPO Director
General Bemanya Twebaze stated:
“The African Regional Intellectual Property
Organization (ARIPO) warmly welcomes its integration into the UPOV e-PVP
system. This marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to modernize
and streamline the administration of Plant Breeders’ Rights across our Member
States. Through this collaboration, applicants will benefit from a more
efficient, secure, and transparent online application process under the Arusha
Protocol. It is a step forward in reinforcing innovation, enhancing service
delivery, and upholding the rights of plant breeders in ARIPO’s Contracting
States.”
UPOV Vice Secretary-General Yolanda Huerta
also welcomed the collaboration, saying:
“We are delighted to see ARIPO join the UPOV
PRISMA platform. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to supporting
breeders with practical tools that simplify access to plant variety protection.
By working together, we are helping to foster agricultural innovation and
strengthen food security across the region and beyond.”
Developed by the International Union for the
Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), UPOV PRISMA is a secure
centralized platform that provides a unified user interface for all
applications, simplifying the submission process.
The tool supports applications to more than
36 participating PVP Offices, covering over 70 countries and states, including
ARIPO. In many cases, the platform also supports applications for national
listing.
By integrating ARIPO into the UPOV PRISMA
system, breeders now benefit from:
·
A single,
harmonized user interface for submitting PVP applications to multiple
jurisdictions.
·
English-language
submission for ARIPO, with automatic language support for other PVP Offices as
required.
·
The ability
to reuse data from previous applications, improving accuracy and saving time.
·
An entirely
digital process, eliminating postal delays and supporting compliance with
critical deadlines like the novelty requirement.
·
Real-time
tracking, with instant confirmation of submission and visibility into the
progress of applications.
This integration reflects UPOV’s commitment
to expanding access to effective plant variety protection systems and to
supporting breeders in bringing innovation to global agriculture more
efficiently and equitably.
For more information or assistance with UPOV
PRISMA, please contact:
UPOV: prisma@upov.int
ARIPO: registry@aripo.org