Information on the use of plants in medicine and agriculture is enshrined in traditional knowledge (TK).

During seminars on biotechnology in agriculture and health in Entebbe, Uganda; Dakar, Senegal and Maputo, Mozambique participants observed that the current regime of intellectual property rights (IPRs), such as patents, trade secrets, plant breeders' rights, and industrial designs cannot accommodate TK, the basis of innovation in many African countries. They expressed much interest in the concept of sui generis and agreed that countries in Africa need to move with haste and take action to protect the rich plant genetic resources in Africa. They also expressed a need for more information on sui generis. Many policy makers supported the idea of putting such a system in place. However, a major problem lies in scarcity of information on sui generis.

This policy paper attempts to explain the concept of sui generis, justifies the need for such a system and offers policy options that countries may wish to consider as they navigate the cumbersome road towards a sui generis system. Read more