Dr. Bert Scholte, the head of Variety Testing at the Netherlands Inspection Service for Horticulture (Naktuinbouw) visited NARO on May 23, 2017 and paid a courtesy call to NARO Senior Vice President, Dr. Akihiro Sasaki, and Vice-President (Seed・Seedling Management), Dr. Eiji Shinmoto. The visit was in conjunction with the conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding between Naktuinbouw and NARO's Center for Seeds and Seedlings. Naktuinbouw is the major organization in-charge in carrying out official inspection and certification of horticultural seeds and plants, providing access to suitable varieties of vegetables and crops in the Netherlands. The signing of the MOU signified the start of enhancing international cooperation to promote partnership and ensure an efficient plant variety registration system for protection of plant breeders' rights that will eventually promote the breeding new varieties.
