Plantiac liquids that can be obtained from the roots of the liquorice plant ("Glycyrrhiza glabra", Dutch "zoethoutwortel"). Whereas so-called eau-de-vie (or other grape-based extracts) is sometimes used during the production of Dutch Brandy, this does not happen when Plantiac is made. It contains 35% alcohol. The brown colour of Plantiac is obtained using caramel. It is not certain when Plantiac was first made. Although advertisements insist on a 100-year anniversary in 1970 this is not true. Plantiac was first produced as Plantinga Cognac by the Plantinga distillery in Bolsward, Netherlands, most likely in the 1930s or 1940s. The 100-year anniversary seems
International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants that UPOV's focus on patents for plant varieties hurts farmers, in that it does not allow them to use saved seed or that of protected varieties. Countries with strong farmers' rights, such as India, cannot comply to all aspects of UPOV. François Meienberg is of this opinion, and writes that the UPOV system has disadvantages, especially for developing countries, and that "at some point, protection starts to thwart development". On the other hand, Rolf Jördens argues that plant variety protection is necessary. He believes that by joining UPOV, developing countries will have more access to new and improved varieties (better