The
African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), in collaboration
with the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho through the Registrar General’s
Office, the Ministry of Law and Constitutional Affairs, and the Ministry of
Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition, is hosted the Symposium on the
Protection of New Varieties of Plants from 20–21 May 2026 in Maseru, Lesotho.
The
Symposium forms part of ARIPO’s 50th Anniversary commemorations, marking five
decades of promoting and strengthening intellectual property systems to support
innovation, creativity and socio-economic development across Africa.
Held
under the theme, “Nurturing Agricultural Innovation: Advancing the Protection
of New Plant Varieties for Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture in
Africa,” the Symposium seeks to enhance awareness of the critical role that
Plant Variety Protection (PVP) plays in fostering agricultural innovation,
increasing productivity, and contributing to food security and sustainable
agricultural development throughout the ARIPO region and beyond.
The
two-day event brings together policymakers, legal and intellectual property
experts, plant breeders, seed companies, farmers, researchers, development
partners and other key stakeholders from across the continent. Participants are
engaging in discussions on the ratification and implementation of the Arusha
Protocol for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants, its alignment with
national legal frameworks, and its relationship with the UPOV Convention.
The
Symposium provides an important platform for sharing experiences, best
practices and lessons learned in establishing and strengthening effective plant
variety protection systems. Through interactive discussions and expert
presentations, stakeholders are exploring practical approaches to creating
enabling environments that encourage plant breeding, support innovation in
agriculture and facilitate access to improved plant varieties.
By
promoting stronger plant variety protection frameworks, ARIPO and its Member
States aim to encourage investment in plant breeding, support the development
of resilient and high-yielding crop varieties, and contribute to sustainable
agricultural transformation across Africa. These efforts are increasingly
important as countries seek innovative solutions to address food security
challenges, climate change impacts and the growing demand for agricultural
productivity.
The
outcomes of the Symposium are expected to contribute to the development of
practical recommendations that will support the effective implementation of
plant variety protection systems and strengthen regional cooperation in
advancing agricultural innovation for the benefit of farmers, breeders and
communities across the continent.