"Proposed Farm Bill offers more protection for flower breeders"

The Senate version of the Farm Bill includes language updating a law that protects the intellectual property of floral industry breeders. The provision was also in the House version of the bill which means it is “a virtual certainty that the final bill, when passed, will include the language,” said Shawn McBurney, the Society of American Florists’ senior director of government relations.

The provision is a win for the floral industry, including SAF, whose members have advocated for the important updates on Capitol Hill, said Jamie Kitz of Sakata Inc. in Morgan Hill, California.

“We are elated the U.S. Plant Variety Protection Act expansion is now in both the House and Senate Farm Bills,” said Kitz, a member of SAF’s Growers Council who lobbied on Capitol Hill in support of the revised language.

“Providing this additional protection for breeding innovation contributes to the health and growth of our industry and brings the U.S. in line with other countries for plant breeding protection,” Kitz added.

Dr. Marvin Miller, AAF, of Ball Horticultural Company in West Chicago, Illinois, and a member of SAF’s Board of Directors, agreed, adding that the changes will encourage and protect more innovation among breeders, to the benefit of the growers, wholesalers and retailers.