L'IITA s'associe à Pairwise Plants Services Inc. pour des solutions agricoles innovantes destinées aux petits exploitants en Afrique
Agriculture in Africa faces increasing threats from challenges such as vulnerability to pests and diseases, low yields, and climate-related stresses. These challenges threaten food security, livelihoods, and sustainable development in Africa. Recognizing the urgency to address these challenges and the need to accelerate the development of improved and more resilient crop varieties, IITA has taken proactive steps by securing a non-exclusive license under a Research and Commercial License Agreement with Pairwise Plants Services Inc. to use its Fulcrum™ gene editing tools. This license grants the right to use the specialized gene-editing technology for research, development, and dissemination of gene-edited products for the benefit of smallholder farmers in certain territories. This licensed technology is expected to accelerate the development of disease and climate-resistant varieties, ensuring that these improved products, including seeds and grains, reach the targeted beneficiaries, especially in regions where the improved varieties play a significant role in food security and livelihood.
This selected technology is the most suitable solution for addressing the identified challenges due to the lack of alternative intellectual assets that meet the required specificity, efficiency, or applicability for the intended use or are subject to proprietary restrictions that limit their accessibility. Additionally, publicly available alternatives lack the technical capabilities or regulatory compliance needed to achieve the desired outcomes, making it essential to secure rights to the licensed technology. IITA will use this technology to develop and disseminate gene-edited products in Maize, Banana, Enset, Yam, Taro, Tomatoes, Bambara groundnut, cassava, cowpea, and soybean for the benefit of smallholder farmers in Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Malawi. Lese smallholder farmers will be reached through partnerships with National Agricultural Research Systems (NAREs), ensuring the effective dissemination and adoption of the improved varieties.
IITA promotes responsible technology transfer in accordance with the CGIAR Principles on the Management of Intellectual Assets (CGIAR IA Principles). This agreement is considered a Restricted Use Agreement because it limits global accessibility by limiting the dissemination of improved products to specified territories exclusively for the benefit of smallholder farmers. This arrangement has been structured and publicly disclosed in line with the CGIAR IA principles.