© Oulailux/Adobe Stock On the tenth anniversary of Viet Nam’s accession to the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), HFFA Research, led by author Steffen Noleppa, conducted an in-depth analysis of the socio-economic effects of membership on the country’s agricultural sector.
Since joining UPOV in 2006, Viet Nam has sought to stimulate agricultural innovation through strengthened plant variety protection. While UPOV membership has demonstrated benefits in industrialized nations, this study evaluates whether similar impacts have occurred in Viet Nam, a developing country with a strong reliance on staple crops like rice, corn, and sweet potatoes.
The study combines productivity data, input-use trends, and economic modeling with a comprehensive literature review to isolate the role of plant breeding in yield improvements. It quantifies the sectoral income gains and broader economic spillovers linked to innovation under UPOV protection.
Since 2006, rice yields increased by 18%, corn by 30%, and sweet potato by 43%—surpassing global yield growth for these crops.
Input use declined by 1.2% annually, indicating efficiency gains through innovation.
An estimated 60–70% of productivity gains can be attributed to plant breeding advancements supported by UPOV.
Sectoral income increased by over USD 2.3 billion, with rice accounting for USD 1.9 billion.
UPOV membership contributed positively to GDP, with up- and downstream sectors adding USD 3.4 million in value.
The results demonstrate not only strong agricultural but also significant socio-economic returns on UPOV-related policy adoption.
Vietnamese and Thai translations of the study are available on the UPOV website. The full study (English) can be downloaded below.
