Online Reporter
Theseus Shambare
ZIMBABWE’s efforts to modernise its plant variety protection laws have received strong international backing, with the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) welcoming the country’s legislative alignment efforts.
The country is amending its Plant Breeders’ Rights Act (Chapter 18:16) to align with the 1991 UPOV Convention, paving the way for full membership to the international body.
The revised law is expected to enhance agricultural innovation, expand access to elite crop varieties and promote seed trade at both regional and global levels.
A stakeholder validation workshop for the draft Amendment Bill was held in Mazowe and concluded on Friday, with farmers, breeders, seed producers, commercial growers and ministry experts endorsing the proposed changes.
Once validated, the Bill proceeds to Cabinet and, if approved by Parliament without changes, Zimbabwe will be eligible to deposit its instrument of accession to UPOV.
This would grant local breeders international protection and enable Zimbabwe to benefit from UPOV’s legal, technical and digital support frameworks.
Speaking during a virtual presentation, UPOV Vice Secretary-General Yolanda Huerta praised Zimbabwe’s alignment efforts.
“Protecting breeders’ rights not only drives innovation but also fosters the wider dissemination of new varieties,” she said.
“By providing incentives for continuous progress in breeding and fostering access to climate-resilient varieties, the UPOV framework supports both productivity and sustainability.”
She added that UPOV membership would offer Zimbabwe access to advanced seed technologies, legal harmonisation and digital tools such as the UPOV e-PVP platform to streamline seed registration and trade.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri, said the amendment marks a pivotal moment for Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector.
“This Bill is about more than protecting intellectual property. It is about safeguarding farmers’ livelihoods, enhancing food sovereignty and positioning Zimbabwe as a leader in agricultural innovation,” said Prof Jiri.
Mr Edmore Mtetwa, Head of the Seed Services Institute, said the country needs a modern legal framework to support local and regional competitiveness.
“Zimbabwean varieties are already in circulation in SADC and COMESA and therefore require a protection system that is internationally recognised.”
He noted that local farmers, particularly in the horticultural sector, are struggling to access specialised crop varieties.
“The amendment also aims to unlock access to such varieties and attract more investment into local innovation,” Mtetwa said.
Plant Breeders Association president Dr Casper Kamutando called on stakeholders to embrace the Bill.
“This is a vital opportunity for Zimbabwe to shine globally,” he said.
Zimbabwe Seed Association chairperson Dr Joseph Makoni, represented by Mr Ivan Craig, breeders must fight against piracy.
“Efforts put in research to come up with a seed variety cannot be stolen. This law ensures breeders are rewarded. It also encourages continued innovation,” he said.
The Bill is widely regarded as a strategic tool to make Zimbabwe a regional seed technology hub, supporting rural development, agricultural resilience, and food and nutrition security.
