According to information released by Israel’s department of Agriculture, 42 PBRs (also known as Plant Variety Protection) were issued over the course of 2024.
Of the 42, slightly over half (22) were issued to Israeli applicants. Of the overseas applicants, most (11) were from the US. The remaining applicants were from European countries: (Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland and Spain) or Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand.
The most popular varieties registered for Plant Breeders’ Rights in Israel were for grain (8) and for strawberries (8). A large number (6) of ornamental plants/ trees were also registered.
When looking at Plant Variety Protection worldwide, the following are the main categories of plant varieties being protected:
The most popular types of plants registered for Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBRs) worldwide tend to fall into a few key categories, largely depending on the economic value, market demand, and the ability to develop distinct and profitable varieties. Here’s a breakdown of the most commonly protected plant types under PBR systems globally:
- Ornamental Plants and Flowers
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- Top varieties: Roses, chrysanthemums, orchids, lilies, geraniums, petunias
- Why popular: High commercial value in landscaping, home gardening, and cut flower industries
- Regions: Strong in the EU, Netherlands, Japan, and China
- Note: Ornamentals often lead in number of PBR applications due to rapid development cycles and market trends.
- Cereals and Grains
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- Top varieties: Wheat, barley, rice, maize (corn), and sorghum
- Why popular: Staple crops in agriculture, with constant demand for improvements in yield, resistance, and climate adaptation
- Regions: U.S., Canada, EU, China, India
- Vegetables
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- Top varieties: Lettuce, tomato, pepper, cucumber, carrot, onion
- Why popular: Fast breeding cycles, large markets for hybrid and disease-resistant varieties
- Regions: EU, U.S., China, Japan
- Fruit Crops
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- Top varieties: Apples, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, bananas, citrus
- Why popular: High consumer demand for new taste profiles, shelf-life, and appearance
- Regions: U.S., EU, China, Australia, New Zealand
- Forage and Pasture Crops
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- Top varieties: Alfalfa, clover, ryegrass, fescue
- Why popular: Important for livestock feed and sustainability in agriculture
- Regions: New Zealand, Australia, EU
- Industrial Crops
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- Top varieties: Cotton, oilseed rape (canola), sunflower, soybeans
- Why popular: Value in textiles, biofuels, and food oil production
- Regions: U.S., China, Brazil, India
Summary from Global PBR Databases (like UPOV & CPVO):
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- Ornamental plants consistently make up the largest proportion of applications in many jurisdictions (e.g., around 40–60% at the CPVO).
- Vegetables and cereals follow, often representing 20–30% of applications.
- Fruit varieties are growing rapidly, especially as global demand for high-value crops rises.
In Israel, varieties from the first four groups: ornamental plants and flowers, cereal and grain, vegetables and fruits, are the ones registered. This is logical, as although Israel grows many flowers, fruits, grains and vegetables, Israel typically does not grow large amounts of forage/ pasture crops or industrial crops, with the exception of cotton, which is grown in Israel.
Find the full series of Plant Breeder’s Rights articles here.
If you have any question about Plant Breeders’ Rights in Israel, please feel free to contact me at Avraham.hermon@jmbdavis.com.
