Home > Topics > Putting Intellectual Property to Work: Experiences from Around the World > From Science to Market: Transferring Standards Certification Know-How from ICIPE to Africert Ltd. > Editor's Summary, Implications and Best Practices

This short, but very important, chapter tells the story of Africert, a company created to address East Africa’s need for the certification services that are required to sell products in foreign markets. While farmers in developing countries often struggle to successfully access international markets because of relatively outdated production methods, safety-, environmental- and health-related trade standards can also act as non-tariff barriers to trade when farmers can not afford the steps necessary to certify that their products meet these standards. To address this need, the mandate was given to the International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) to establish regional certification services for organic products in Africa. Africert was created as an independent spin-off company to provide internationally recognized certification for products at prices that are manageable for small-scale African farmers.

Key to establishing Africert was finding and training personnel who could conduct inspection and certification services in a knowledgeable and impartial way. Since local ownership was an important priority, as of 2006, ICIPE completely divested its shares in the company, turning control over to a qualified local institution.

Among the important lessons of the Africert project is the importance of know-how as a form of technology transfer. Compared to other types of technology transfer, which may require significant infrastructural investment, know-how is comparably easy to transfer. International organizations such as ICIPE have an important role to play in transferring this knowledge to improve access to markets and the general economic condition of farmers in developing countries. Another important lesson is that the inherent and distinctive value of goods and products (that is, value that is already present) can be maximally captured by implementing credible certification systems and then properly managing certification marks.

Certification marks are a type of trademark that attest that goods and products sold under the mark meet the standards set and/or come from the region named. As such, they can gain significant intangible value as a form of IP rights (for example the “Union Label” or “Roquefort Cheese” certification marks), and thereby generate substantial returns in the global marketplace. In essence, when customers see the certification marks they are more likely to make a purchase.

Several of the examples cited in this chapter suggest that Africert is making solid progress towards building a certification system which will lead to certification marks on many African products and goods, attesting to consumers around the world as to their value-added features. For example, Africert is currently involved in inspection and certification services in Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Zambia, among other countries in East Africa. The company enforces standards for a number of prominent companies and trade organizations, including:

• Utz Kapeh, which means “good coffee”
• Starbucks C.A.F.E (Coffee and Farmer Equity) Practices
• The British Retail Consortium (BRC) Food Technical Standard
• The Ethical Trade Partnership in the tea sector (ETP)

Goods and products that are so certified can then receive widely recognized certification marks, value-added features that significantly increase market potential and customer base on a global scale.

Key Implications and Best Practices

Given that IP management is heavily context specific, these Key Implications and Best Practices are intended as starting points to be adapted to specific needs and circumstances.

For Government Policymakers

• Consider the extent to which trade standards act as barriers to commodities seeking international markets, and what services, including certification services, might enable small-scale farmers to better access these markets.
• Training in certification standards leads to certification systems and their implementation. Goods carrying certification marks will gain entry into foreign markets, generating increased revenues and exchange. Advocate for building capacity in all phases of certification, from establishing standards to managing marks, as this in clearly in the broader national interest.
• It is important to understand the value of certification marks (a type of trademark). These can significantly facilitate access for value-added goods and products to lucrative foreign markets.
• Advocate for national policy and law that builds a solid system of trademarks (which includes, of course, certification marks).
• Regional networks in certification standards can pool resources an expertise, facilitate the establishment of certification systems and thus accelerate access for the regional partners’ goods and products to lucrative foreign markets.

For Senior Management (university president, R&D manager, etc)

• Building capacity in certification systems (which de facto includes managing certification marks) will require investment, but likely not at the same level as with high technology sectors such as biotechnology. Indeed, certification marks can basically facilitate garnering return on goods and products that already embody value-added features (for example, premium coffee).

For Scientists

• Building capacity in certification systems might require your expert input and participation. Standard setting is often highly technical. Hence, contribute willingly to these efforts. Building such capacity is in the interest of the nation, your institution, programs, colleagues, family and friends.

For Technology Transfer Officers

• Know-how is easily overlooked as a crucial, and yet easily transferable, form of intellectual property that can be directly applied to already existing goods and products; consider what kind of collaborations might best use and transfer this know-how, especially in service industries. Capacity in establishing certification systems and managing certification marks is know-how falling into this category.
• Capacity in, and knowledge of, trademarks (which includes certification marks) might be an overlooked aspect of IP management. However, as with copyright, it can be a route for rapidly capturing value that is already embedded in a good, product or innovation coming out of your institution or country. Hence, strive to build these capabilities.