Damyang is a county in northern Jeollanamdo and it is famous for its sweet strawberries. Now, their strawberry breeds “jukhyang” and “damhyang” have secured variety protection right in the EU for the next 20 years until 2040. By this, jukhyang and damhyang become the first Korean strawberries to have received variety protection rights by the European Community Plant Variety Office. This decision will lay the ground for further entry of Jeollanamdo’s strawberries on the European market.
The term ‘Variety protection’ means the rights to multiply, produce, export or import seeds of a protected variety for commercial use in the world market, or to make an offer for transfer and rental belong solely to the breeder. Therefore securing the breeder a monopoly position to manage and control the distribution of their product.
Strawberries from Jeollanamdo are widely popular because of their sweet taste and low costs. So far Korean strawberries are being exported to over 20 countries all around the world. Among the biggest importers are Hong Kong and Singapore. Now, as the strawberries breeds damhyang and jukhyang are protected in Europe, the exports and sells of strawberries from Jeollanamdo are expected to grow further.