| COPF (Canadian ornamental Plant Foundation) is a highly successful and effective plant management program operating for the past 41 years, has incorporated a non-profit organization in the US called Plant Watch™. Plant Watch™ will build on COPF's history of facilitating relationships between growers and breeders from Europe, Asia and North America. Plant Watch™ will serve the needs of both growers and breeders regarding royalties and patents. The breeders involved concern varieties of flowers, perennials and woody plants. As a non-profit agency, independent of any specifc breeder, Plant Watch™ advises growers about which plants can and cannot be propagated legally, explains patent rights and responsibilities. In protecting royalty-paying propagators and producers it also enforces fairness in this market. Plant Watch™ also gives growers a voice in the grower/breeder relationship. Like COPF, the mandate of Plant Watch™ is to provide effective solutions in the management of propagation rights to growers and breeders for the benefit of the horticulture industry. Although newly established, the principals of Plant Watch™ have decades of experience in licensing and enforcement. The Board of Directors includes Ron Cramer, Sakata Seed America, Eric Voogt, Westcan Greenhouses, Laurie Scullin, The New Product Group, Todd Baker, Baker's Nursery, Tom Intven, Canadale Nurseries. The Managing Director (also of COPOF) is Peggy Walsh Craig. Posted by Debbie Hamrick, Debbie Hamrick, Director, Specialty Crops. NC Farm Bureau Federation Inc. Breeders and producers interested in further information should contact Peggy Walsh Craig: Tel 0018664141141, E-mail: info@plantwatch.org www.plantwatch.org |
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