WT/GC/W/885  
G/AG/W/238  
WT/COMTD/W/279  
 
5 July 2023  
(23-4565) Page: 1/2 
General Council  
Committee on Agriculture  
Committee on Trade and Development  Original: English  
 
 
THE ROLE OF TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY IN RESILIENCE BUILDING:  
AGRICULTURE  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE AFRICA N GROUP (ANGOLA; BENIN; BOTSWANA; BURKINA FASO; 
BURUNDI; CABO VERDE; CAMEROON; CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC; CHAD; CONGO; 
CÔTE  D'IVOIRE; DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO; DJIBOUTI; EGYPT; ESWATINI; GABON; 
THE GAMBIA; GHANA; GUINEA; GUINEA -BISSAU; KENYA; LESOTHO; LI BERIA; MADAGASCAR; 
MALAWI; MALI; MAURITANIA; MAURITIUS; MOROCCO; MOZAMBIQUE; NAMIBIA; NIGER; 
NIGERIA; RWANDA; SENEGAL; SEYCHELLES; SIERRA LEONE; SOUTH AFRICA; TANZANIA;  
TOGO; TUNISIA; UGANDA; ZAMBIA AND ZIMBABWE)  
The following communication, dated 3 July 2 023, is being circulated at the request of the 
Africa n Group.  
 
_______________  
 
 
1  CONTEXT  
1.1.  This communication should be read in conjunction with the paper  WT/GC/W/883  -  
WT/WGTTT/W/34/Rev.1  - WT/COMTD/W/277  - IP/C/W/700 "The Role of Transfer of Technology in  
resilience Building: Reinvigorating the discuss ions in the WTO on trade and transfer of technology", 
as submitted to the  General Council, the Working Group on Trade and Transfer of Technology, the 
Committee on Trade and Development and the Council for Tra de-Related Aspects of Intellectual 
Property Rights  and document WT/GC/W/868 "Policy space for industrial development - a case for 
rebalancing trade rules to promote industrialisation and to address emerging challenges such as 
climate change, concentration of production and digital industrialisation". These latter two 
submissions set out the design and parameters for discussions on Agreement -specific issues as 
pertains to industrial development in general, including the role, towards that end, of transfer of  
technology and trade.  
1.2.  International technology transfer, which occurs when a country acquires, imitates or adapts 
technology developed elsewhere helps determine a country 's level of agricultural productivity. 
Technology also cuts production costs and low ers consumer price. The benefits therefore depend on 
how the technology is transferred, the speed of transfer, and the degree of government policy 
influence on technology transfer.  
1.3.  Agriculture research has supplied farmers with new and improved technologie s resulting in 
large yield increases. Important technological developments include hybrid seed, fertilizers, 
pesticides, mechanical improvements, and livestock and poultry vaccines. Research funds also 
contribute to improving managerial skills and developi ng more efficient farming systems.  
1.4.  A factor in effective technology transfer is a strong local research programme that facilitates 
technology adaptation and adoption. Many countries that lack research programs cannot absorb new 
technologies developed abroad. This problem is compounded with inadequate public funding for 
public research and technology transfer and lack of joint research programs whereby the private 
sector funds basic research projects carried out in public sector institutions.  WT/GC/W/885 • G/AG/W/238 • WT/COMTD/W/279  
 
- 2 - 
 
  1.5.  In the midst of the polycrisis, the transfer of technology is fundamental when considering how 
to build agricultural resilience to withstand, amongst others, the food security emergencies. In some 
parts of the world, technological developments including hy brid seed, fertilizers, pesticides, 
mechanical improvements, etc. have revolutionized agricultural trade. This has been done with 
important State interventions including strong institutional frameworks and research programmes 
to facilitate technology adapt ation and adoption.  
1.6.  Effective technology transfer also holds the potential to contribute to addressing the risks of 
concentration of production and supply of agri -food products which evidently renders 
import -dependent countries vulnerable to global supply  chain shocks. It can, therefore contribute to 
building resilience, especially developing countries, including Least developed countries and net food 
importing countries, address food insecurity, and support initiatives towards more environmentally 
sustain able farming methods in light of the climate change challenge.  
1.7.  Developing countries, including least developed countries will greatly benefit from an in -depth 
discussion on the role that international and regional agriculture research centers play in promo ting 
and disseminating technology, how products and technologies are developed (i.e. inputs, production, 
harvest, etc.), as well as considering a range of issues such as water management, nitrogen and 
food waste reductions, etc. Consideration in these disc ussions, of the most appropriate and effective 
mechanisms for technology transfer to enhance food security, build agricultural resilience, and 
encourage or incentivize climate -friendly agricultural practices would also be important.  
2  ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED  WITH A VIEW TO MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 
ADOPTION AT MC13  
2.1.  This context provides the basis for which discussions can take place to examine WTO rules on 
the transfer of technology as a means to among other important factors, addressing the risks 
attendant to concentration of production and supply of food and other agricultural products thereby 
building agricultural resilience to face food security crises and confronting climate change through 
the adoption and sustainable agriculture and food production syst ems. 
2.2.  The discussions may address the role of international Agriculture research centres in the field 
of technology transfer, as well as taking stock of projects conducted in developing countries, 
determining the nature of projects, objectives, and their co ntribution to the cause of transferring 
agriculture -related technology and know -how.  
2.3.  The discussions can include experience sharing on how technologies developed by international 
and national agricultural research centres are disseminated. For example, a discussion may be 
around the extent and timing of releasing technologies into the public domain and/or licensing 
conditions if technologies are patented. Members can also share information about the development 
of relevant products and technologies with ap plication in agriculture, be in inputs, production, 
harvest, or post -harvest which:  
a. Increase the recycling, reuse, efficiency of water in agriculture;  
b. Reduce the negative effects of nitrogen in agriculture;  
c. Increase the yield or productivity of crops;  
d. Reduce food loss/waste in the supply chain from farmer to end consumer;  
e. Long-term safety of crops produced with new technologies.  
3  WAY FORWARD  
3.1.  It is proposed that the reinvigoration of work on trade and transfer of technology commence 
as soon as possible in the Committee on Agriculture.  
__________