Watch the recording on Zoom (45min)
Please find the presentations below.
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13 Oct. 2026
Public hearings at the European Patent Office on maize and tomato patents and new report
In this presentation we talk about a new report published by No Patents on Seeds! that provides information on recent patents to show how the EPO circumvents the prohibition against granting patents on conventionally bred plants. Plus, we inform about public hearings at the European Patent Office (EPO) regarding patents on maize and tomatoes. We are joined by representatives of two plant breeding companies.
The patent hearings:
On 20 October, a hearing takes place regarding a patent held by the company KWS (EP3380618) claiming conventionally bred maize that can be grown in colder climatic conditions. During our presentation, Grietje Raaphorst-Travaille from the Dutch company Nordic Maize breeding explains how the patent endangers the work of traditional maize breeders in Europe. The hearing itself will be held at the Board of Appeal of the EPO in Haar near Munich. The appeal was filed by the No Patents on Seeds! coalition. Members of the public may attend the hearing in person. More info.
On 22 October, a public hearing will be held regarding a patent on tomatoes. The patent claims tomatoes with natural resistance to a virus as a ‘technical invention’. Around 40 breeders, gardeners, development organisations and environmental activists filed a joint opposition together with No Patents on Seeds!. One of the opponents, Frans Carree from the Dutch company, De Bolster, explains their concerns in this presentation. Bayer and BASF have also filed an opposition against the patent (EP 3629711) which is held by the French company, Vilmorin. The public hearing can be followed online. More info.
The speakers and the presentations
- Johanna Eckhardt, project coordination, No Patents on Seeds!, johanna.eckhardt@no-patents-on-seeds.org (Find the presentation here.)
- Christoph Then, spokesperson No Patents on Seeds!, info@no-patents-on-seeds.org (Find the presentation here.)
- Frans Carree, Head of Breeding department, De Bolster, fcarree@bolster.nl (Find the presentation here.)
- Grietje Raaphorst, Nordic Maize breeding, G.J.RaaphorstTravaille@protonmail.com (Find the presentation here.)
If you have any questions or comments, you are very welcome to contact the speakers.
