The Guardia Civil of Huelva has carried out an investigation on an individual for the unauthorized cultivation of 7,000 plants of a protected blueberry variety, which would constitute a violation of industrial property laws. The investigation started following a complaint from a corporation and a company, holders of the cultivation rights of the Emerald variety, upon discovering that this fruit was being produced without permission in an agricultural farm in Cartaya, Huelva.
To verify the complaint, Guardia Civil officers conducted an inspection of the facilities, collecting random samples of blueberry leaves. These samples were sent to a laboratory for genetic analysis to determine the plant's DNA profile. The results confirmed that the variety was being cultivated without the authorization of the patent-holding company, as verified with data from the registry of the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO).
Source: EFE / lavanguardia.com