Presentation by Mr. Rolf Jördens (WIPO, Switzerland) at Wheat for Food Security in Africa conference, Oct 9, 2012, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

1. Intellectual Property, Innovation and
Food Security
Presentation at a Science and Policy Dialogue on
Wheat for Food Security in Africa
Addis Ababa, October 8 to 12, 2012
Rolf Jördens, Special Advisor, WIPO, Geneva

2. WIPO’s Mission
The UN specialized Agency responsible for Intellectual
Property
The Development Agenda
Innovation and Global Challenges:
Health
Climate Change
Food Security

3. Food security: The challenge
Wholistic
The pieces of the puzzle are widely scattered
Incentives and aligning interests
Exploring the role of IP
Activating the potential of IP
Creating the right policy environment

4. IP is part of enabling environment
UPOV Impact Study 2005
http://www.upov.int/export/sites/upov/about/en/pdf/353_upov_report.pdf
Second World Seed Conference 2009
http://www.upov.int/export/sites/upov/about/en/pdf/354_seed_conf.pdf
more investment in breeding (national and foreign)
more breeders (public and private)
access to foreign germplasm
incentives for national breeders (“breeder‘s exemption“)
more varieties
better varieties
greater choice for farmers
research-extension-farmer linkage
benefits for society

5. Steps so far
Seminar: Private and the Public Sectors: Enhancing
Agricultural Productivity - June 2011
http://www.wipo.int/freepublications/en/global_challenges/1027/wipo_pub_10
27.pdf
Meeting of potential partners – Geneva, May 2012
Results:
Potential partners identified themselves
Potential partners identified wheat as a crop of
mutual interest
East Africa (United Republic of Tanzania) identified
as an area where joint action might be possible

6. Key challenges
Value creation (better varieties, improved production and
marketing systems, improved quality of end product)
Value protection = IP rights such as PVP (for new varieties),
patents (e.g. for crop protection chemistry, other
technological inventions), trade marks, geographical indic.
Value capture : improved inputs, more effective wheat
production systems and sale of a better product lead to
profits for farmers; high quality end products are benefical
for consumers and, therefore, an incentive for effective
commercialization
Value sharing: adaqute economic compensation for all
contributors (including providers of advice and services) to
encourage sustainable investment

7. What’s next
A case study „The Role of IP for Sustainable Wheat
Production in East Africa“
Active exchange of ideas and best practice
Expected outcomes:
A horizon scan of existing and potential actors in the
field (administrators, breeders - public and private, seed providers,
agronomists, technology providers, farmers, traders, end users)
An assessment of existing and potential activity
addressing wheat related innovation in East Africa
The initiation of IP relevant collaboration between
public and private partners focused on wheat
production in East Africa
Better understanding the role of balanced IP systems

8. Reflections
Project is at a preliminary stage, programming (adaquate
scope, structure, management and funding) is going on
Launch expected for early 2013, duration 5 years
Some comments from the work so far:
Policy environment („food security“) favourable
Serious attempts to use IP (Governments, CGIAR)
Various important initiatives (Addis Conference,
seed companies)
Focus is important (IP, wheat, East Africa)
Enthusiasm from both public and private sector
partners (Government, research, breeding, trade,
farmers)

9. Thank you!
Rolf Jördens
Special Advisor
Global Issues Sector of WIPO
Geneva, Switzerland
Tel.: +22 338 9155
rolf.joerdens@wipo.int