Intellectual property rights in agriculture: the World Bank's role in assisting borrower and member countries

'Poverty and hunger are not inextricably connected. Although poor, a subsistence farmer with sufficient land, stock, and seed will be able to feed his family. What the farmer cannot do, however, is feed the increasing number of landless neighbors. World population is expected to grow from 5.8 billion to 8.5 billion by the year 2025. How will this vast population be fed?' - From 'Intellectual Property Rights in Agriculture'. The growing involvement of the private sector in worldwide agricultural biotechnology research makes the issue of intellectual property rights (IPR) an urgent priority in and for developing countries. The World Bank organized a major workshop on IPRs, bringing together a number of informed individuals representing major institutions with a stake in IPR. The group felt it vital to resolve disputes surrounding IPRs in developing countries to protect food security and to ensure uninterrupted supply of new technologies to resource-poor farmers. This publication contains valuable insights into the complex area of intellectual property rights in agriculture, and will help give valuable and urgently needed direction to the Bank and to its member and borrower countries.