In April 2021 the company Nunhems / BASF has received a European patent on water melons (EP2814316) derived from conventional breeding. The plants show a bushy growth habit, originally detected in a home garden. According to the patent, the genetic condition for bushy growth just occurred by occasion. Nunhems applied known breeding methods to generate melon fruits without kernels from these plants. The main advantage: These plants need less space for growing. The patent covers the plants, the seeds and the fruits. In December 2021, NO PATENTS ON SEEDS! filed an opposition against this patent. A hearing is scheduled for 12 September 2023.
Press release Opposition against BASF patent on watermelons (14.12.2021)
Press release EPO grants BASF a patent on water melons (5.5.2021)
