About us
The Agricultural Crop Licensing Platform (ACLP) is a European licensing platform that enables plant breeders to access patented traits in agricultural, ornamental, fruit and forest crops. Established in 2023, the ACLP provides a transparent, standardised framework that makes patented innovation available to breeders of all sizes.
The ACLP was established by 9 European plant breeding companies and trait developers — including small, medium-sized, and large companies. They have jointly worked on the establishment of a simple legal framework that gives members access to commercial varieties for breeding purposes and to marketed patented traits on fair conditions in Europe, with increased transparency. In 2024, a new member joined, bringing the total membership to 10 companies, which together represent a wide range of agricultural crops.
What is the scope?
- Traits: The ACLP covers traits developed through conventional breeding as well as, eventually, those obtained through New Genomic Techniques.
- Geography: The ACLP covers the 39 Member States of the European Patent Convention, Ukraine and Russia (with a possibility to opt out).
What the ACLP delivers
By bringing together patent holders and breeders under one transparent licensing framework, the ACLP works towards three core outcomes:
- Fair access to patented traits. Novel patented plant traits, including those produced by New Genomic Techniques, are available among ACLP members on fair conditions.
- Sustainable variety development. The development of novel plant varieties is supported by the information and rights shared among members under the ACLP framework.
- Easier technology transfer. Streamlined licensing makes it easier for ACLP members to build on each other’s innovations and continue innovating.
The companies behind the ACLP believe this platform benefits European society by ensuring that innovation in plant breeding remains accessible to all European breeders, contributing to greater agricultural crop productivity and sustainability across the continent.