The restricted arrangements in 2019 that were reported by CGIAR Research Centers included 87 Limited Exclusivity Agreements, three Restricted Use Agreements, four provisional patent applications, as well as a number of additional arrangements that are still pending classification. Definitions of Limited Exclusivity Agreements and Restricted Use Agreements can be found in the IA Principles. No plant variety protection applications in 2019 were reported.  

Of the 87 Limited Exclusivity Agreements, 83 were reported by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and four were reported respectively by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), the International Center for Agriculture Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Of the three Restricted Use Agreements, one was reported by IRRI and two by CIMMYT. Of the four patent applications, one was reported by Bioversity International and three by IRRI. 

The System Council Intellectual Property Group (SC IP Group) and the System Organization reviewed the adequacy of the justifications provided by Centers in support of the restricted arrangements reported. Based on a preliminary review by the System Organization and, subject to further information to be received from Centers, the justifications provided to date appear to be consistent with the IA Principles. A final determination of the adequacy of Centers’ justifications as well as highlights from Centers’ implementation of the IA Principles in 2019 will be available in the CGIAR System Intellectual Assets Management Report for 2019, which includes independent observations by the SC IP Group.  

Header photo: International Potato Center’s (CIP) Thiago Mendes in trial fields of Crop Wild Relative-derived potatoes in Oxapampa, Peru.  Photo by M. Major/Crop Trust.