context: The PRC has launched its system for essentially derived varieties in agricultural plants, with the first batch covering ten crops including rice, wheat, cotton, rapeseed and peach. The new framework aims to strengthen intellectual property protection in the seed industry, encourage original breeding innovation and support the country’s seed industry revitalisation strategy.
MARA (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs) announced implementation arrangements for the EDV (essentially derived varieties) system and progress in protecting seed industry intellectual property rights. Liu Lihua 刘梨花 MARA Seed Industry Management Department director general and Office for the Protection of Plant Varieties head, said that innovation is at the centre of seed industry development, while stronger intellectual property protection is essential to encourage long-term investment in breeding research.
The PRC has made steady progress in strengthening seed security in recent years. Currently, more than 95 percent of farmland planted with crops uses domestically developed varieties. Domestic varieties account for more than 80 percent of the livestock seed market, 86 percent of the aquatic seed market and 91 percent of the vegetable seed market. These achievements have strengthened the foundation for ensuring that the PRC’s food supply relies mainly on domestically developed seeds.
The introduction of the EDV system marks an important step in improving the PRC’s seed intellectual property framework. Established under the revised Seed Law in 2021 and further clarified by the revised regulation on the protection of new varieties of plants in 2025, the system creates a mechanism for sharing benefits between original breeders and breeders who develop essentially derived varieties. The aim is to protect original innovation while encouraging further breeding improvements.
According to MARA, the first implementation list covers ten crops, including rice, wheat, cotton, rapeseed, peanut, Chinese cabbage, pepper, millet, broad bean and peach. Other crops will be considered for inclusion based on future implementation experience and industry development.
To support the operation of the system, MARA has also introduced four supporting measures, including the release of EDV assessment guidelines, the establishment of assessment thresholds, the identification of qualified testing organisations and the creation of an expert panel. For example, the genetic similarity threshold for crops such as rice, wheat, cotton, millet, peanut and pepper has generally been set at 90 percent, while crops including rapeseed, soybean, broad bean and peach have a threshold of 85 percent, with adjustments depending on testing methods.
The implementation of the EDV system is expected to improve incentives for seed innovation, strengthen protection for breeders’ rights and create a more supportive environment for research and commercialisation. MARA said it will continue improving the seed intellectual property protection system and provide stronger institutional support for the long-term development of the PRC’s seed industry.