Food Security

One of the many reasons for hunger and malnutrition in many developing countries is insufficient agricultural productivity which does not keep pace with increasing demand for food. The development and introduction of appropriate agricultural technology, including better adapted varieties of plants needs appropriate incentives. All sectors, need to respond to the needs of farmers for suitable agricultural technology. A suitable legal and administrative framework of intellectual property protection may provide a key incentive for creativity, investment and knowledge transfer in many different circumstances and in agriculture in particular, for both, the public and the private sectors.

For these reasons, WIPO is developing a series of public events with a view to demonstrate IP driven success stories of agricultural development with a particular focus on food security. A coordinated action is intended with partners from the plant related innovation industry, the public agricultural research sector, farmers associations of developing countries, intergovernmental organizations (such as FAO or UPOV), non governmental organizations and bi- and multi-lateral donors, and private philanthropic foundations.