UPOV will be meeting in Geneva for its Spring session during the week of 3rd to 7th April 2017. Its main rule-making body, the Consultative Committee (CC) will meet on 5th April in the morning, and UPOV’s highest decision-making body, the UPOV Council will hold its meeting in the afternoon. The proceedings of the CC, where Council decisions are prepared, is closed to observers. The Working Group on a possible International System of Cooperation (WG-ISC) that was established in October 2016, will meet on 5th April, without the presence of observers.

This paper explores the likely implications of an approved Bayer-Monsanto merger for the South African agricultural system. It outlines the trend of consolidation occurring within the seed and agrochemical industries, provides a background to the merger, criticises the rationale given for the merger by Bayer and Monsanto and outlines concerns should the merger be approved in South Africa.

Chee Yoke Ling et al., (September 2016) Farmers’ Right to Participate in Decision-making – implementing Article 9.2 (c) of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources, Working Paper, APBREBES

UPOV member states gathered in Geneva between the 24th and 28th of October for UPOV's Autumn session. UPOVs main rule-making body, the Consultative Committee (CC) held its meeting the 27th of October, while the Council, the Union’s highest decision-making body, held its session the 28th of October. The meeting of the Administrative and Legal Committee (CAJ) took place the 25th of October.