Central Advisory Service: Introduction

The need for a centralized intellectual property (IP) advisory service for the Consultative Group on International Agriculture (CGIAR) system, (www.cgiar.org) was recognized three years ago, when the CGIAR Central Advisory Service on IP (CAS) was created. In February 2000, Dr. Victoria Henson-Apollonio, a geneticist and a U.S. Patent Agent was hired to head up the office, housed at the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI), a CGIAR Center located in The Hague, The Netherlands. Initial funding, provided by the CGIAR finance committee has been extended with a renewal supported by the CGIAR-Center Directors Committee. Additional funding has also been provided by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) (through ISNAR) and the Rockefeller Foundation (through the CGIAR Centers, CIMMYT and WARDA).

The mission of CAS is to serve the CGIAR Centers' needs regarding IP issues, by providing and facilitating expert advice and enhancing exchange of knowledge and experiences. CAS has carried out this mission in conjunction with IP Management Units of the CGIAR Centers, by visiting individual Centers for consultations and providing training and internships. CAS has also acted as a resource for information about IP/IPR for the CGIAR for various events such as the Genetic Resources Policy Committee, and by sponsoring IP-informative events such as a CG-CAS Contact Workshop. CAS has been a co-sponsor for the SGRP/GRPC/CAS/System Office Workshop on the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, held at IRRI in The Philippines and the IP Workshop on Geospatial Applications to Support Sustainable International Agriculture (GASSIA) held at the USGS-EROs Center in Sioux Falls, SD.

For further information, contact CAS.