The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), in collaboration with the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho through the Registrar General’s Office, the Ministry of Law and Constitutional Affairs, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition, is hosting the Symposium on the Protection of New Varieties of Plants from 20–21 May 2026 in Maseru, Lesotho.
The Symposium forms part of ARIPO’s 50th Anniversary commemorations, marking five decades of promoting and strengthening intellectual property systems to support innovation, creativity and socio-economic development across Africa. Held under the theme, “Nurturing Agricultural Innovation: Advancing the Protection of New Plant Varieties for Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture in Africa,” the Symposium seeks to enhance awareness of the critical role that Plant Variety Protection (PVP) plays in fostering agricultural innovation, increasing productivity, and contributing to food security and sustainable agricultural development throughout the ARIPO region and beyond. The two-day event brings together policymakers, legal and intellectual property experts, plant breeders, seed companies, farmers, researchers, development partners and other key stakeholders from across the continent.
Participants are engaging in discussions on the ratification and implementation of the Arusha Protocol for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants, its alignment with national legal frameworks, and its relationship with the UPOV Convention. The Symposium provides an important platform for sharing experiences, best practices and lessons learned in establishing and strengthening effective plant variety protection systems. Through interactive discussions and expert presentations, stakeholders are exploring practical approaches to creating enabling environments that encourage plant breeding, support innovation in agriculture and facilitate access to improved plant varieties.
By promoting stronger plant variety protection frameworks, ARIPO and its Member States aim to encourage investment in plant breeding, support the development of resilient and high-yielding crop varieties, and contribute to sustainable agricultural transformation across Africa. These efforts are increasingly important as countries seek innovative solutions to address food security challenges, climate change impacts and the growing demand for agricultural productivity. The outcomes of the Symposium are expected to contribute to the development of practical recommendations that will support the effective implementation of plant variety protection systems and strengthen regional cooperation in advancing agricultural innovation for the benefit of farmers, breeders and communities across the continent.
