20/05/2026
PACRA CEO TAKES PART IN CONTINENTAL SYMPOSIUM ON PROTECTION OF NEW PLANT VARIETIES.
Patents And Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) Registrar and CEO Mr. Benson Mpalo is among various stakeholders from across the continent who have gathered in Maseru, Lesotho for a Symposium on the Protection of New Varieties of Plants.
The event from taking place from 20–21 May 2026, is being held under the theme “Nurturing Agricultural Innovation: Advancing the Protection of New Plant Varieties for Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture in Africa.”
Mr. Mpalo is among the panelists for discussions under the topic “The Role of Plant Variety Protection (PVP) System in Advancing Sustainable Agricultural Development, Food Security and Climate Change.
The Symposium seeks to raise awareness on the role of Plant Variety Protection (PVP) in supporting agricultural development across the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization - ARIPO Region and beyond.
The event brings together policymakers, legal and IP experts, plant breeders, seed companies, farmers and other key stakeholders to discuss the ratification and implementation of the Arusha Protocol, its alignment with national laws, and its relationship with the UPOV Convention.
It also provides a platform for sharing experiences and developing practical recommendations to strengthen PVP systems in Africa.
The event has been organised by 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.
Pictures courtesy of ARIPO.