The Community Plant Variety Office has inaugurated its new CPVO headquarters in Angers, France, bringing staff together in one location. European and French officials attended the ceremony, highlighting the importance of plant variety rights in supporting breeding innovation, competitiveness and agricultural resilience.
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European and French officials joined the inauguration, highlighting the role of plant variety protection in supporting breeding innovation and agricultural resilience.
The Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) officially inaugurated its new headquarters in Angers, France, on 10 November 2026, bringing its staff together in new premises to administer the European Union’s plant variety rights system.
Olivér Várhelyi, European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, and Benjamin Haddad, French Minister Delegate for Europe, attended the ceremony, hosted by CPVO President Francesco Mattina. Christophe Béchu, Mayor of Angers, also joined representatives of European institutions, national authorities and the plant-breeding sector.
Plant Variety Rights Support Innovation
The CPVO administers the Community Plant Variety Rights system, which provides intellectual property protection for new plant varieties across the EU. It works with the European Commission, Member States, examination offices and breeders to support the system’s operation.
Speaking at the inauguration, Várhelyi highlighted the connection between protecting breeding innovation and ensuring new varieties reach farmers, according to a press release.
“For innovation to make a difference, new plant varieties must not only be developed. They must also be able to reach farmers and the market. This is why a strong and effective plant variety rights system matters: it supports innovation, strengthens Europe’s competitiveness and helps make our agriculture more resilient and better prepared for the future.”
Mattina pointed to the changing demands facing European agriculture and plant breeding.
“Innovation is accelerating, technologies are evolving, and Europe needs institutions that can provide expertise, legal certainty and practical solutions to agricultural development.”
Bringing Staff Together
Located at 44 rue François Cevert in the Carré d’Orgemont district, the new headquarters brings CPVO staff together under one roof. The premises support the administration of plant variety rights, technical exchanges and cooperation with stakeholders across Europe.
Guests toured the building before the official ceremony and ribbon-cutting.
Maintaining Ties with Angers
The CPVO has been based in Angers since 1995 and formalised its Headquarters Agreement with the French Government in December 2024.
The relocation maintains the Office’s links with Angers and the wider Maine-et-Loire region, which is home to research institutions, plant breeders and businesses working in horticulture and plant science.
As the EU agency responsible for granting Community Plant Variety Rights, the CPVO supports innovation and investment in plant breeding across the agricultural and horticultural sectors.
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