Sep 11, 2012

Got Pollen?

Do you know someone who likes to breed plants or collect sports and rare plants? Last week, I had the chance to catch up with Rick Schoellhorn of Proven Winners. And he was quite excited to share all the details about this year’s Independent Plant Breeder’s Conference, also know as the IPBC. Here’s what he had to say…On Nov. 1 to 4, 2012, there is a unique conference going on in Portland, Ore. The IPBC occurs every two years and is an educational program where amateur and professional plant breeders have a chance to meet with industry representatives and talk shop.The conference began 10 years ago in Florida when the University of Florida offered a seminar for plant breeders interested in finding out how to safely and realistically introduce new plants to the industry. It is pretty complicated when you are first making the attempt, and pretty easy to become lost in legal paperwork, and who you should work with and how much money it will cost.The conference moved about the United States offering insight to local audiences in Alabama, Pennsylvania and now Oregon. In short, it is about how to work with the industry and how the industry can work with you.Join a group of hobbyist and professional breeders, listen to their advice on how to protect yourself and your plants, get a reality check on what a plant is worth and understand the legalities of patenting and what it offers in the way of breeder protection. You’ll hear from legal experts on plant patenting and marketing and production specialists on how to produce and market a new plant, but most importantly you’ll have a chance to rub shoulders with other plant breeders and collectors and network with them!The IPBC is a nonprofit event sponsored by: Conard-Pyle, Proven Winners, Plant Development Services, Garden Genetics, Ball Horticultural Co., Royalty Administration International, Longwood Gardens, Raker and Terra Nova Nurseries.The conference includes two days of lectures by researchers, breeders and legal experts and tours of some beautiful gardens in the area. There will be guest speakers from across the United States who are plant breeders themselves and can give personal accounts and perspective on what has worked successfully for them. The last day of the conference is a tour of local nurseries and gardens, including Terra Nova Nurseries, the Portland Japanese Garden, Cistus Nursery and Lan Su Gardens.To register for this educational conference, please visit: www.provenwinners.com/2012-IPBC. On the website, attendees will find the agenda, hotel accomodations and much more.–Jasmina