New intellectual-property options help hemp breeders protect their genetics

(This is an abridged version of a story that appears in the Fall issue of Hemp Industry Magazine.)

Hemp farmers across the United States require many varieties of the plant, such as those conceived to grow in distinct climates or with certain traits desired by the end customers, among others.

To meet those needs, plant breeders constantly are striving to create hemp varieties with special traits, including disease resistance and new combinations of cannabinoids.

Those breeders spend years developing new varieties and enduring the tedious process of hybridizing, growing, trialing, selecting – and then doing it over and over.

Then, they must try to safeguard the intellectual property they’ve created, to ensure they are paid for these unique genes, traits and varieties.

That part of the breeder’s job has gotten easier.

Thanks to the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill, breeders now have a few options and legal recourse to protect their genetics.

Hemp Industry Magazine spoke with industry stakeholders about some of the ways hemp breeders can protect their intellectual property.

The links below will inform hemp plant breeders about:

• The availability of Plant Variety Protection.
• Obtaining Plant Variety Protection.
• How to get a plant patent.
• The value of utility patents.
• Licensing unique genetics.
• Taking the trade-secret route.