Sakata Seed Corporation joins Vegetable International Licensing Platform

Yokohama, Japan; November 8, 2016 – Sakata Seed Corporation will join the Vegetable International Licensing Platform, commonly referred to as ‘ILP,’ a private association with its office in the Netherlands. ILP members make all of their patents related to vegetable breeding traits accessible to their fellow members under the conditions of the ILP. The membership will grant Sakata access to patents for the development of varieties that will enhance its research activities.

The ILP is one of the largest global patent pools that deals with patents covering biological material, important for the breeding of vegetables. Many large, small and medium-sized companies dealing with vegetable seeds and seedlings are members of this organization, including Bayer, Enza Zaden, Vilmorin, Rijk Zwaan, Syngenta and Takii. The ILP pools and manages a large number of patents on normal traits developed by participant companies. Variety patents on commercial varieties are also covered by the ILP system. By lowering the barrier to entry to the utilization of patents, the organization aims at promoting the mutual use of patents by fellow members to enhance the development of varieties.

Joining the ILP enables access to a large number of patents related to the development of varieties owned by member companies. We will be able to use, in particular, commercial variety patents, freely for the breeding of new varieties. Other patents related to the traits of varieties, known as trait patents (a patent that protects the biological characteristics of plants) will be made accessible to us at reasonable license fees through negotiation between members. 

Participation in the ILP provides us access to new genetic resources. The Sakata Seed Group will actively use the ILP to enhance our research activities and accelerate the development of useful varieties. Sakata will be officially admitted to the ILP at their General Meeting on November 14, 2016.

To learn more about the ILP, visit www.ilp-vegetable.org.