Public-private partnerships

This section addresses the role of the private sector in agricultural Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), and its capacity to drive innovation and Research and Development (R&ampD) — elements that are crucial to fuelling growth in the agricultural sector. The private sector plays a particularly critical role in spurring agricultural R&ampD, especially when combined with public sector initiatives within mature markets with strong Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) to protect returns on investment. The key to a successful PPP lies in combining the different objectives and aims of the public and private sectors in order to bring about a synergy effect – a co-operative mechanism whereby both public and private sectors share the financial burdens of R&ampD. This synergy effect enables returns on investment by taking advantage of the private sector's technical expertise, and the public sector's knowledge of local needs and networks. This section also discusses the issues that may arise when implementing PPPs, including increased liability exposure and the potential erosion of IPR. As we demonstrate, effective PPP strategies must recognise the differences in objectives and capabilities across the public and private sectors, while acknowledging that returns on investment are essential to creating and fostering innovation. PPPs must also promote enabling, science-based frameworks in favour of prohibitive regulatory frameworks. Finally, we recommend an increase in public spending in order to foster innovation and make new technologies more widely available.

Improving Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems: OECD Conference Proceedings

Public-private partnerships

The role of the private sector