2014 marked the 12th year for Zhang Liya, a senior researcher from Shanghai Botanical Garden, devoting to plant varieties protection and researching. To Zhang, this is his Chinese dream.

In 2002, Zhang was admitted to Beijing Forestry University majoring in plant varieties studying. Five years later, she joined in Shanghai Botanical Garden, the largest municipal botanic garden in China. "Working with the pioneers in the field of camellias innovation, such as the renowned Zhuang Maochang, Huang Delin, Xu Lindi, leading me into a vast ocean of knowledge." recalls Zhang. 

Together with his colleagues, Zhang has established an innovation system for camellias varieties resources. Several new varieties of camellias plants have been applied and granted for country's new variety rights.

As of now, Shanghai Botanical Garden has filed a total of 7 new varieties of camellias plants for China's new variety rights, with 5 granted. In 2013, they filed China's first patent application in USA in the field of camellias plants researching. It is worth mentioning that the garden has conducted practice of industrializing the 5 granted varieties with enterprises. Up to now, 5 million plants have been cultivated; 100 million Yuan worth of economic benefit is expected to be yield.

Zhang Liya attributed these achievements to his hard-working colleagues and government support. According to the State Forestry Administration, Shanghai Botanical Garden was listed as one of Chinese forest IPR pilot units. To Zhang, his plant dream is coming true.

(China IP News)