On 4 June, the Agricultural Crop Licensing Platform (ACLP) hosted a high-level event at the European Parliament, supported by MEPs Lena Düpont (EPP), Cristina Maestre (S&D), and Benoit Cassart (Renew Europe). The event brought together policymakers, stakeholders, and industry experts to explore how licensing platforms can enhance competitive and sustainable farming in Europe by improving access and transparency around patented traits. ACLP Managing Director Hélène Guillot, President Claudia Hallebach (KWS), and Board members Gerard Backx (HZPC) and Nicolas Amelot (Syngenta) represented the platform. Amelot shared insights from over a decade of experience with the International Licensing Platform (ILP), illustrating how a well-structured licensing system can facilitate collaboration, reduce barriers to patented technologies, and accelerate innovation in plant breeding. The presentation sparked an engaging Q&A session, with participants expressing strong interest in this private sector initiative that aims to simplify access to patented traits, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) navigating a complex intellectual property landscape. The conversation is especially timely as EU policymakers continue to negotiate new rules for New Genomic Techniques (NGTs). The potential of these tools to deliver higher yields, drought-resistant crops, and reduced dependency on pesticides and fertilizers is becoming increasingly clear. However, the accompanying intellectual property framework—with its mix of Plant Breeders’ Rights and patent protections—can pose challenges for innovation and market entry. Licensing platforms like ILP and ACLP aim to simplify this space by streamlining the licensing process, ensuring breeders can more easily obtain licenses for patented traits in vegetables and agricultural crops. By reducing complexity, these platforms promote innovation while ensuring fair access to patented traits.
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