In today’s episode, Pat Fitzgerald, an Irish ornamental breeder and entrepreneur, shares his journey from the greenhouse to the global market — and how decades of plant breeding experience have shaped his view of innovation and protection.We will explore the following questions: What does it take to bring a new variety to life? What are the challenges that breeders face in a competitive and fast-changing environment? How intellectual property can help transform ideas into lasting impact? Today’s guests:

Pat Fitzgerald, Founder and CEO of Beotanics;

Nuria Urquia, Vice President at the CPVO;

Alessio De Laurentiis, Communication Officer at the CPVO (Moderator).

In today's episode, we explore how CPVO enables innovation through partnerships with academia and research institutions.Top insights: • How research and CPVR interact in practice• Why scientific partnerships matter for breeders and society• The contribution of innovation to sustainable agricultureWe’re pleased to welcome:François Laurens, Plant Breeding Research Engineer, INRAECécile Collonnier, BMT Expert, CPVO Plant Variety Expertise UnitSara Piva, International Cooperation & Data Protection Officer at CPVO (moderator)

In honor of the 30th anniversary of the CPVO and the implementation of the important legal framework in the European Union — the European Union Plant Variety Rights System — we will present a historical overview of the CPVO’s founding, its mission, and the development of plant variety protection in Europe.

Guests: Mr. Francesco Mattina, President of the CPVO; Ms. Sandra Gallina, Director-General of Health and Food Safety of the European Commission.

Moderator: Ms. Sara Piva, International Cooperation and Data Protection Officer at the CPVO.