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Evaluation Support Service]Offering comprehensive, end-to-end assistance from variety introduction and licensing agreements to import applications and on-site coordination.](https://www.mikojapan.co.jp/wp/wp-content/themes/miko_2.4/assets/images/ip/IP_kv_en.png)
![[Global Variety Registration
Evaluation Support Service]Offering comprehensive, end-to-end assistance from variety introduction and licensing agreements to import applications and on-site coordination.](https://www.mikojapan.co.jp/wp/wp-content/themes/miko_2.4/assets/images/ip/IP_kv_sp_en.png)
If we do not protect the intellectual
property of fruits and vegetables,
the annual loss could exceed
100 billion yen.
In recent years, superior Japanese fruit and vegetable varieties have been increasingly leaked overseas, where they are cultivated and sold without authorization. For example, Shine Muscat has been trademarked abroad and traded at high prices, while Japanese producers receive no royalties. The same is true for strawberries and Dekopon; they are grown overseas, and the estimated annual loss of brand value and royalties exceeds 100 billion yen. Export opportunities are also being lost. Although exports of Japanese grapes are rising, counterfeit products overseas prevent Japan from securing sufficient market share and profits. These issues stem from the lack of proper variety registration and certification. For farmers in Japan, evaluating and protecting intellectual property is not just a formality it is an essential effort to prevent real financial loss and to protect your brand and income. And above all The variety you create is the embodiment of your effort, history, and your pride. It is your unique identity in this world. Before it is taken or misused, protect it while you can establish your rights, and pass your legacy on to the future.
MIKO JAPAN Co., Ltd.
President & CEO
Mariko Ishikawa
What MIKO JAPAN can do
- Bringing IP varieties to Japan
- Import support(including detailed advice on import requirements)
- Arrangement of quarantine/isolation facilities
- Coordination of field trials for variety evaluation
Note: Please note that trial conditions will vary depending on the cultivar type and location where grown and successful outcomes cannot be guaranteed. - Variety evaluation
- Preparation of variety technical sheets
- Manage Plant Variety Right (PVR) applications with the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture,Forestry and Fisheries(MAFF)
- Support for Introducing varieties to Japanese farmers
- Taking Japanese varieties to the world
- Preliminary research to assess the potential suitability of any growing region overseas for commercial production of Japanese varieties.
- Export support (Including specific advice on export conditions)
- Application for approval/permits from the Ministry of Agriculture,Forestry and Fisheries(MAFF)
Note: MAFF approval is required when exporting registered Japanese varieties abroad. - Arrangement of quarantine/ isolation facilities
- Coordination with partner growers for testing varieties
- Variety evaluation
- Introduction to patent attorneys for variety registration in each country
- Preparation of contracts in English
- Management of Fruit revenues and royalties
Case studies & Achievements
Successful Variety Registration for Japanese Farmers
KiwiKo® Director
Murray Malone
Reference for Miko Japan
Miko Japan Co. Ltd is the exclusive representative of KiwiKo B.V. in Japan and has the exclusive evaluation and commercialization rights for various varieties of kiwifruit in Japan that are managed globally by KiwiKo. Miko Japan has provided numerous services for KiwiKo as part of this arrangement including managing the import of plant material into Japan, arranging the phytosanitary clearance and quarantine for the plant material and arranging nursery propagation of plants for evaluation and commercial production, and sub-licensing nurseries and growers in Japan for these purposes. Miko Japan also manages the process of applying for Plant Variety Rights (PVR’s) in Japan on behalf of the variety owners and managing the Intellectual Property (IP) rights associated with this. At all times we have found Miko Japan to be a very professional, efficient and reliable service provider with excellent communications skills and good fluency in English. Any issues that have arisen with our IP business in Japan have been able to be promptly resolved by the Miko Japan team. The CEO Mariko Ishikawa has an extensive background in the fruit industry and is experienced in managing IP for fruit varieties in Japan. I can highly recommend Miko Japan to any company, variety owner or breeder who requires similar IP management services in Japan for fruit varieties.
Reliable support from a team of experts
Our support system and partners
Legal, Intellectual Property, and Agriculture Connecting the value of plant varieties to the next generation.
In recent years, the illegal propagation and online sale of seeds and seedlings, as well as the unauthorized outflow of valuable varieties overseas, have become serious social issues. Producers may unexpectedly become involved in disputes or, in some cases, unintentionally infringe on rights. As a result, understanding the current legal framework and considering concrete measures to protect both one’s own varieties and those of others has become increasingly important. From variety development and registration to commercialization and the recovery of sales proceeds, we provide comprehensive support in collaboration with related professionals. We also offer legal assistance to those seeking to introduce high-value, superior plant varieties to overseas markets.
IP strategies that protect your varieties and brands and carry them to the global stage.
Protecting Japan’s plant varieties and creating an environment in which high-quality foreign varieties can be introduced with confidence are essential to the future of agriculture. Focusing on plant variety protection, trademarks, and patents both in Japan and overseas, we are dedicated to providing intellectual property support tailored to the agricultural sector. We offer comprehensive IP strategies crucial for the growth of agricultural businesses, including assistance with introducing foreign varieties, obtaining breeder’s rights, and protecting brands. Leveraging our network of law firms around the world, we provide consistent, end-to-end support for building a robust IP framework for international expansion.