Tsui to secure research advances on Plant Variety Protection Board

Portrait photo of Albert Tsui
Albert Tsui is a new member of the USDA Plant Variety Protection Board.

Albert Tsui, Business Development Specialist and patent attorney in the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences’ Office of Research, was appointed this week to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Plant Variety Protection Board.

Named to the 14-member board by Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, Tsui will advise the Secretary on decisions involving the Plant Variety Protection Act, which secures intellectual property rights for breeders of new varieties of plants.

“Innovation in the plant and seed industry has always been vital to agriculture, making it possible for us to meet the needs for food, clothing and other goods that American families, and the world need,” said Perdue. “With their great experience as farmers and in the plant breeding seed industry, these board members will help continue the tradition of this robust American agricultural sector.”

Members serve for two years, and represent farmers, seed industry, trade and professional associations, and public and private research institutions.

“I am proud to represent Washington State University and its academic breeding programs for this very important law protecting new plant varieties” said Tsui. “Membership on the Board helps ensure that WSU has a voice in intellectual property matters surrounding seed-propagated plants and that discoveries made at WSU and elsewhere benefit communities, growers and society to the greatest, fairest and most meaningful extent.”

Read the full announcement here.