In recent years, the Chinese blueberry industry has experienced remarkable growth in production capacity and trade volume, marked by the rapid expansion of cultivation areas.
However, the issue of intellectual property protection for varieties has become a critical challenge, with frequent cases of infringement posing significant obstacles to innovation and the sustainable development of the sector.
In this context, as reported by Produce Report, the CFNA Blueberry Committee (Chinese Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce, and Animal By-products) was established on November 16. This took place during the celebration of the Chinese International Blueberry Conference 2024, held in the city of Yuxi, Yunnan Province, organized by CFNA and co-organized by the China International Fruit Exhibition (China Fruit).
This Committee was created to address the growing concern for the protection of intellectual property rights of varieties and to establish a solid foundation for the healthy growth of the sector. The CFNA Blueberry Committee, in collaboration with leading companies, has officially launched the Initiative for the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights of Blueberry Varieties. This initiative calls on all industry stakeholders to prioritize and actively engage in protecting intellectual property rights related to blueberry varieties.
The Agreement Signed
The newly formed committee committed to the following:
Comply with relevant laws and regulations, such as the Seed Law of the People’s Republic of China, and actively fulfill the responsibility and obligation to protect the Intellectual Property of blueberry varieties.
Actively participate in the promotion and dissemination of knowledge regarding the protection of intellectual property for blueberry varieties and enhance awareness of protection and safeguarding.
In daily production and operational activities, without the license of breeders, we do NOT produce, reproduce, process, promise to sell, sell, import, or export the reproductive materials of licensed varieties. We do NOT reuse the reproductive materials of authorized varieties for commercial purposes in the production of reproductive materials for another variety. We are aware of, understand, and respect the law, upholding knowledge, supporting innovation, and competing fairly in compliance with the law.
Actively provide suggestions for the protection of intellectual property of blueberry varieties and actively cooperate with officials to crack down on and investigate infringement behaviors.
Signatories of the Agreement
| Name | Company | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Jason Zhang | JWM Group | Chair CFNA Blueberry Committee |
| Jae Moon Chun | Driscoll's | Vice Chair CFNA Blueberry Committee |
| LU Kun | CFNA | Secretary General CFNA Blueberry Committee |
| FAN Wenzhuo | PLANASA China | Deputy Secretary General CFNA Blueberry Committee |
| Ralph ZHOU | AGROVISION China | Commercial Director |
| Luis Baanante | CAMPOSOL China | GM |
| Sean LI | UNITED EXPORTS China | Business Manager |
| Henk Vaandrager | FALL CREEK China | GM |
| LI Bing | 58 Agri-Tech Co., Ltd | President |
| HUANG Weimin | Sun Infinit Agri Group | Vice President |
| DI Peng | Shanghai Pengsheng Industrial Co., Ltd | Chairman |
| JIANG Huitie | Honghe Joyfruit Agri-Techs Co., Ltd | GM |
| Miko HU | BerriesBlue Agricultural Cultivation (Yunnan), Ltd | Managing Director |
| Gonzalo Matamala | Giddings Asia | GM |
| Michael Oates | Haygrove Ltd | Managing Director |
| Hermann Mecklenburg | AgroBerries | Market Manager Asia |
| ZHANG Ming | Riverking Shanghai Agri-Techs Ltd | President |
| Kevin ZHAO | Dalian Yidu Group | Product Director |
Photo: J.C.A. Garcia - Linkedin
