Geographical Indication (GI) options for Ethiopian Coffee and Ghanaian Cocoa

Innovation & Intellectual Property
5. Conclusions
The research found that, at present, much of the technology in biofuel production
was non-patented first generation technology in the public domain. Thus it would
appear that the patent regime was not, at the time of the study in 2011–12, hindering
access to biofuel technology in use in Mozambique. However, the same may
not apply to the more efficient second generation technology that is on the horizon,
typically patented, and which is probably necessary to make Mozambique’s
biofuel industry a strong, sustainable one. Use of the more complex patented technology
(by the local Mozambican biofuel producers and researchers envisioned
by the NPSB of 2009) will likely require negotiation with the owners of the technology
and payment of licensing fees.
The government of Mozambique is clearly going to have to play a strong role
if its visions of 150,000 new jobs, localised biofuel technology innovation and
vibrant local SME participation in the sector are to be realised. To that end, the
Ministry of Science and Technology (Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia [MCT]),
has established a National Programme for the Promotion of Mozambican
Innovators (see AIM, 2011; MCT, 2010). The inclusion of the Minister of Science
and Technology in the newly established Inter-Ministerial Committee on Biofuels
may pave the way for local research and innovation in the area of biofuels technology
under the Promotion of Innovators Programme. (The programme had,
at the time of the completion of this research study in 2012, already resulted in
identification of more than 80 innovators and the filing of more than 40 patent
applications. However, none of the innovations was related to biofuels.)
The standard technology transfer modalities will not be appropriate to
achievement of the national objectives set out by the NPSB. The NPSB calls for
selection and adoption of appropriate production technologies applicable to local
communities, whereas the standard technology transfer model is one whereby
the technology acquired tends to be for large-scale enterprises – in this case, large
industrial biofuel processing plantations and plants. Such enterprises do not typically
provide control to local small-scale actors, as such enterprises are incorporated
into large bilateral investment projects requiring sophisticated licensing
contracts and licensing and royalty payments.
Sophisticated, costly technology and machinery would likely hinder the
vision put forward by the NPSB, which seeks SME access to technology. Already
in the case of jatropha, we found (in our interviews) the view that small producers
are generally not interested in processing jatropha into biofuel themselves.
Small-scale jatropha producers seem, instead, more inclined to sell their harvests
to large buyers who can transform the seeds into biofuels. Efforts thus need to be
made, similar to the initiative we found under the auspices of ADPP, to encourage
258