From Monday 5 May to Friday 9 May 2025, a workshop and information session will be held in Suriname on the subject of “Plant Breeders’ Rights in Suriname”. This workshop is part of the Makandra project, which focuses on improving the quality of plant propagation material in Suriname. The session is jointly organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (LVV) and Naktuinbouw.
The training aims to strengthen the capacity of experts within the ministry, as well as relevant stakeholders such as research institutes and other departments involved. The focus is on the implementation of the Seed Act, with special attention to plant breeders’ rights and the admission of new plant varieties. Attention is also paid to the DUS (Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability) research, a methodology that investigates whether a variety meets the requirements of novelty based on characteristics of the plant variety.
In addition to LVV employees, representatives from the National Seed Council (NZR), the Anne van Dijk Rice Research Center Nickerie (ADRON), the Foundation Center for Agricultural Research in Suriname (CELOS), Food and Agriculture Industries (FAI), and the Anton de Kom University Suriname (AdeKUS) will also participate in the workshop.
The Makandra project, which means “working together” in Surinamese, is a demand-driven program in which the Netherlands provides technical support to the Surinamese government. In this case, Naktuinbouw, a knowledge and expertise center for the horticultural sector in the Netherlands, has shared its expertise and knowledge to support the Surinamese authorities in strengthening the legislation and regulations around plant breeders’ rights and the admission of new plant varieties.
Naktuinbouw assesses the identity, quality and health of propagation material and carries out various inspections and tests for diseases and pests. Recently, three employees of LVV and members of the NZR followed an intensive internship training at Naktuinbouw in the Netherlands, focused on the protection of new plant varieties, in accordance with the UPOV Convention 1991.
In addition, the Draft Seed Act, which was designed by the NZR, has now been presented to the Surinamese parliament. During the opening of the workshop, Maitrie Jagroep, LVV deputy director of Agricultural Research, expressed the hope that the Seed Act will be approved soon, so that implementation in practice can begin. She emphasized the desire for further support from Naktuinbouw to realize this important step. This workshop is an essential step in strengthening the horticultural sector in Suriname, with the aim of improving the quality and management of plant propagation material and promoting sustainable growth of the sector.
Original article from Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Suriname