To release a new or improved varietal, a College of Agricultural Sciences (CAS) faculty member submits a proposal detailing the new or improved characteristics. This page serves as a hub of information and links to resources to assist in that process. The main sections on this page are listed below, including navigation directly to those sections:
Varietal Release Advisory Committee
Release Procedures & Templates
Commercialization Process
Varietal Release Advisory Committee
Committee Responsibilities
The primary responsibility of the Variety Release Advisory Committee (VRAC) is to review cultivar and germplasm release proposals, including both Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station (OAES) proposals and joint release proposals from cooperating agencies or states, and to make appropriate recommendations to the Director of the OAES. Additionally, the Committee will review related policy and procedural matters.
Current Committee Organization
The Committee members serve 5-year renewable terms. Committee members are appointed by the Director of the OAES. One member will be elected Chairperson for a 3-year renewable term, which allows for sharing of and transitions between leadership. The Chairperson will be a voting member and will be responsible for circulating proposals, calling and conducting meetings, and forwarding Committee recommendations to the OAES.
Committee Membership
- Jim Myers, Chair (HORT)
- Shawn Mehlenbacher (HORT)
- Shaun Townsend (CSS)
- Sandy Smith (CSS)
- Chris Mundt (BPP)
- Pankaj Jaiswal (BPP)
- Ryan Contreras (HORT)
Participating Departments of Horticulture (HORT), Crop & Soil Science (CSS), Botany & Plant Pathology (BPP)
Release Procedures & Templates
Varietal Release Process, in general
- OAES or the Committee Chairperson (Chair) receives from an originator breeder a release proposal which provides, as applicable, the information recommended in Proposal Content. If only OAES receives the proposal, OAES will forward to the Chair after a preliminary review. A letter of transmittal or other indication of endorsement from the Head of the originating department or agency must accompany the proposal. Additional information may be requested by the Chairperson or OAES before the Committee considers the proposal.
- The Chairperson will obtain a Committee vote (a majority vote being required for recommendation) by either:
- Forwarding the proposal to members, followed by a Committee meeting
- Use of a email ballot with the option of a Committee meeting when requested by a member
- The Chair will report the Committee recommendations to the Director of the OAES.
- The OAES will act on the Committee recommendations and inform the originating department, state, or agency of its decision
- The OAES will send copies of the proposal with an invitation to join in the release to the Directors of the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station and Washington Agricultural Research Center, and when appropriate, to the Agriculture Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, University of California Agricultural Experiment Station, and other regional Agricultural Experiment Stations. The Director of the OAES will inform the following:
- the originator of the action taken by the cooperating states and agencies [see decision tree or multistate varietal release flowchart],
- the supervisor of the originator of the action taken,
- OSU Extension and Experiment Station Communications (EESC) of a release, and
- OSU Office of Technology Transfer of a release.
- After action by the Directors or appropriate agency administrators, the originator will assist EESC in preparation of news releases and prepare other needed announcements for U.S. Agricultural Experiment Stations, seed companies, and other logical recipients.
- Registration of the variety with the appropriate agency will be the responsibility of the originator.
PROCESS FLOWCHARTS
Oregon release
Multiple state release, Oregon originated
Release originating outside of Oregon
CRITERIA for OSU participation in multiple state releases
Proposal Content
Proposal Content
Commercialization Process
Material Transfer Agreements (MTA)
A MTA is a contract that governs the transfer of tangible research materials between two organizations, when the recipient intends to use it for his or her own research purposes. The MTA defines the rights of the provider and the recipient with respect to the materials and any derivatives. Biological materials, such as reagents, cell lines, plasmids, and vectors, are the most frequently transferred materials, but MTAs may also be used for other types of materials, such as chemical compounds and even some types of software.
Three types of MTAs are most common at academic institutions: transfer between academic or research institutions, transfer from academia to industry, and transfer from industry to academia. Each call for different terms and conditions.
Plant Varietal Protection (PVP)
The PVP Office administers the Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA), by issuing Certificates of Protection in a timely manner. The Act provides legal intellectual property rights protection to developers of new varieties of plants which are sexually reproduced (by seed) or tuber-propagated.
GOOGLE: Plant Variety Protection Office (at USDA) for FAQs, forms and information on how to apply.
Licensing procedures
Who is an inventor and who is not
Office of Commercialization and Corporate Development
