The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the appointment of 14 members to serve on the Plant Variety Protection Board. The newly appointed members will serve two-year terms. Terms run from September 24, 2022, to September 24, 2024.
Newly appointed members are:
Farmer Representation
- Brent Robertson, Elsie, Nebraska
Private or Industry Representation
- Audrey Charles, Naperville, Illinois
- Barry Nelson, Cambridge, Iowa
- Heidi Nebel, Johnston, Iowa
- Paul Nelson, St. Charles, Missouri
- Eloy Corona, Apex, North Carolina
- Patricia Olosky, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Michelle Bos, Granger, Washington
Public or Government Representation
- Jenny Koebernick, Auburn, Alabama
- Andrae McMillian, Highland Home, Alabama
- Felicia Jefferson, McDonough, Georgia
- Peggy Ozias-Akins, Tifton, Georgia
- Shubo Zhou, Gaithersburg, Maryland
- Albert Tsui, Ithaca, New York
The Plant Variety Protection Act provides legal protection in the form of intellectual property rights to developers of new varieties of plants and calls for a Plant Variety Protection Board. The board consists of 14 members representing farmers, the seed industry, trade and professional associations, and public and private institutions involved with developing new plant varieties. Members of the board provide oversight and guidance to the program on plant variety protection issues.
The Plant Variety Protection Office examines new applications and grants certificates that protect varieties for 20 years or 25 years for vines and trees. Certificate owners have rights to exclude others from marketing and selling their varieties, manage the use of their varieties by other breeders, and enjoy the legal protection of their work.
More information is available on the Plant Variety Protection Office page on the AMS website.
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