Old knowledge, new science ...

What is CGIAR?  Apart from being an apparent typo for "cigar", CGIAR is the streamlined modern name for the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research. This is a global partnership that unites various organisations that are engaged in research leading towards a food-secure future. The idea is to support research that is dedicated to reducing rural poverty, increasing food security, improving human health and nutrition, and ensuring more sustainable management of natural resources.  Some 15 centres belong to the CGIAR Consortium work in close collaboration with hundreds of partner organisations.  These include national and regional research institutes, civil society organisations, academe and the private sector. 

Taking a dig at farming,
but not farmers' rights ...

This Kat's friend Kay Chapman is a Communications Specialist for the CGIAR Consortium. She has been working with legal/IP practitioners in the field of agricultural research for development since 2005 -- and is still reasonably cheerful. She facilitates activities for the CGIAR Consortium Legal/IP Network (CLIPnet) on behalf of the CGIAR Consortium General Counsel's Office.  Last week Kay published a fairly lengthy blogpost entitled “Old knowledge and new science: using traditional knowledge in CGIAR research”.  This post deals with IP issues key to her community such as Prior Informed Consent, course farmers’ rights and traditional knowledge, drawing from some examples from CGIAR's member Centres. Kay's post also seeks to highlight the work the CGIAR Consortium is collectively doing on a policy level to support good practice in this area.

Some time later this year, at a mutually convenient date and when Kay is in London, the IPKat and Merpel hope to host a meeting at which Kay and Kat team member Darren Smyth -- who has focused on many problem issues arising from the Nagoya Protocol in recent Katposts (see eg here, here and here) -- will chat about their respective positions, where they differ and whether (and, if so, how) the gap between polar opposites can be effectively bridged, or at least narrowed.