Suchergebnisse

Meine erste Begegnung mit Gunter Murzin? Grundschule, erste Klasse, nur wussten weder er noch ich davon. In der ersten Reihe saß Marion! Die allerschönste der Klasse – ach was, der ganzen Schule – war seine Nichte!

Inhaltsangabe: Nach einer Schätzung der Internationalen Handelskammer sind rund zehn Prozent des Welthandels Plagiate . Den Unternehmen rund um den Globus entsteht ein Schaden von rund 600 Milliarden Euro jährlich . Allein die durch die Fälschungen verursachten Steuerverluste betragen circa 70 Milliarden Euro. Während der globale Umsatz um das etwa 17 – fache zugenommen hat, ist das Weltbruttosozialprodukt in derselben Zeit lediglich um ein Drittel gewachsen, und die Wachstumsraten der Fälscherindustrie sind nach wie vor exorbitant. Auch für Deutschland haben die Plagiate dramatische Folgen. Jedes Jahr gehen in der Bundesrepublik zwischen 70.000 und 80.000 Arbeitsplätze durch den Handel mit gefälschten Produkten verloren . Der Schaden für die deutsche Wirtschaft ist immens und wird auf 20 bis 25 Milliarden Euro jährlich beziffert. Wenn es nicht gelingen sollte, erfolgreiche Abwehrmaßnahmen zu ergreifen, könnten sich diese Einbußen bis zum Jahre 2010 vervielfachen. Daraus wird bereits deutlich, dass die Fälscherindustrie eine ernste Bedrohung darstellt und zudem längst als globale Industrie agiert . Das explosionsartige Wachstum der Fälscherindustrie in den letzten 15 Jahren ist Folge des rasanten Aufstiegs der VR China und – zum Teil – der Öffnung der Märkte in Mittel- und Osteuropa. China gilt heutzutage als Hochburg der Fälscherindustrie – aus der Volksrepublik stammen rund 2/3 aller Nachahmungen weltweit. Vor diesem Hintergrund und in Zeiten immer schneller zusammenwachsender Marktwirtschaften wird der Schutz der geistigen Eigentumsrechte für Unternehmen zu einer immer größeren Herausforderung. Mit den Mitteln des gewerblichen Rechtsschutzes können neben den klassischen Attributen des Wettbewerbes, wie Qualität, Preis und Zuverlässigkeit, die oft mit erheblichem Investitionsaufwand erarbeiteten Produkte rechtlich abgesichert und im Verletzungsfall bestehende Rechte durchgesetzt werden. In Zeiten des globalen Welthandels spielen grenzüberschreitende Handelsaktivitäten von Unternehmen eine große Rolle. Der Schutz geistiger Eigentumsrechte auch über Ländergrenzen hinweg ist daher für innovative Unternehmen unter Umständen überlebenswichtig. Im Gesamtzusammenhang der Thematik spielt das Territorialitätsprinzip eine entscheidende Rolle. Es beherrscht den Schutz der geistigen Eigentumsrechte und besagt, dass sich der Schutz dieser Rechte in jedem Staat nach dessen Rechtsordnung richtet. Viele Internationale Abkommen zum Schutz dieser Rechte haben einen der Zielrichtung nach universellen Charakter beansprucht, diesen aber sehr häufig nicht erreichen können . Der fehlende oder zu geringe Schutz geistiger Eigentumsrechte in einzelnen Staaten kann global gesehen zu Verzerrungen und Störungen des internationalen Handels führen . Im Hinblick auf die Produkt- oder Markenpiraterie wirkt sich dies dahingehend aus, dass Originalprodukte im Preis nicht mit Piraterieware konkurrieren können . Gang der Untersuchung: In Kapitel zwei der Arbeit wird in die Problematik der Produktpiraterie eingeführt. Die Begriffe der Produkt- und Markenpiraterie sind vor einem internationalen Hintergrund erläutert und problematisiert. Kapitel drei beschäftigt sich mit der Darstellung der gewerblichen Schutzrechte. Es wird auf die im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wichtigsten Schutzrechte eingegangen, wobei ein geschichtlicher Abriss über die Entstehung des gewerblichen Rechtsschutzes vorangestellt wird. Die Kapitel vier und fünf behandeln zum einen die Welthandelsorganisation (World Trade Organisation – WTO) und zum anderen das Übereinkommen über handelsbezogene Aspekte der Rechte des geistigen Eigentums (Agreement on Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights – TRIPS). Der Grund für die Betrachtung der WTO ist, dass zur Stärkung des Schutzes der Rechte des geistigen Eigentums der institutionelle Rahmen der WTO gewählt wurde. . Da viele Staaten dem GATT 1947 (General Agreement on Tarifs and Trade) als "Vorgängerinstitution" bisher ablehnend gegenüberstanden (VR China, Russische Föderation), wurde eine Aufnahme in die WTO mit der gleichzeitigen Anerkennung der multilateralen Abkommen innerhalb der WTO – Rechtsordnung (GATS [General Agreement on Trade in Services], GATT, TRIPS) verknüpft . Entscheidend dabei ist, dass die Mitgliedsstaaten, im Vergleich zum GATT 1947, durch die Einbindung der geistigen Eigentumsrechte in das WTO – Übereinkommen zum Schutz dieser Rechte verpflichtet werden . Vor diesem Hintergrund ist die Betrachtung des WTO – Übereinkommens als Grundlage für das Verständnis der Thematik und vor allem vor dem Hintergrund des TRIPS – Abkommens unerlässlich. In Kapitel sechs wird auf das für global agierende Unternehmen aktuell oder zumindest in naher Zukunft unverzichtbare Schutzrechtsmanagement eingegangen. Anhand des mit Abstand bedeutsamsten gewerblichen Schutzrechts, dem Patent, werden Strategien aufgezeigt, die diverse Möglichkeiten des Einsatzes dieses stärksten aller Schutzrechte deutlich machen sollen. Hierbei werden sowohl defensive als auch offensive und sonstige innovative Patentverwertungsstrategien berücksichtigt. Kapitel sieben beschäftigt sich abschließend mit einer Betrachtung des Landes, das auf der einen Seite für den überwältigenden Anteil aller Piraterieware weltweit verantwortlich ist, auf der anderen Seite aber auch in puncto Attraktivität bei vielen Unternehmen auf Platz eins steht: Die Volksrepublik China. Nach den strategischen Einsatzmöglichkeiten für Unternehmen, die in Kapitel sechs vorgestellt wurden, soll hier nun auf rechtliche Durchsetzungsmöglichkeiten von bestehenden Schutzrechten im Verletzungsfall eingegangen werden. Betrachtet werden dabei Patent- und Markenverletzungen und damit verbundene zivilrechtliche-, behördliche- und strafrechtliche Durchsetzungsmöglichkeiten.

Recent literature on the adoption of sustainable agricultural technologies empirically detected the relevance of a variety of factors relating to the behavior of producers. Dessart et al. (2019) made a precise compilation of these factors and grouped them according to their characteristics and the way in which they impact on the decision-making of individuals, with the aim of complementing economic variables (that are usually the focus of research on decision-making) with factors originating in areas such as psychology and sociology. This in order to help policy making processes to become more comprehensive and supportive to the adoption of sustainable practices. Although, Dessart et al. (2019) focus on studies carried out in Europe and the effectiveness of measures of European Union countries in terms of promoting the adoption of sustainable practices, there is an opportunity to adapt the behavioral factors proposed by them to the Latin American case. This fits into the context of a relatively recent impulse in the field of adoption studies for innovations in the agricultural sector that focuses on the inclusion of sociodemographic and psychological behaviors of individuals in the analyses in order to express their intention to adopt. Based on this, and although in-depth research in the region is necessary to confirm the impact of these behavioral factors, it is possible to adapt the framework proposed by Dessart et al. (2019). In addition, sustainable practices make up a fairly heterogeneous set of agricultural practices that have an effect on both the environment and productivity and therefore, narrowing down the analysis to a specific practice or technology is possible by making some additional adjustments. The present work proposes a qualitative pilot tool for a forage adoption decision analysis with cattle producers. The tool includes and adapts the behavioral factors detected by Dessart et al. (2019) in order to identify which ones are relevant and how they affect the primary producer's decision to adopt new forage technologies in Colombia. This tool is part of a set of valuable inputs for the construction of alternative policies and interventions in favor of the adoption of forage innovations. First, we present the conceptual structure, second a method and a series of questions are proposed in the form of a survey, and, finally, some recommendations are made for its application and further adjustment. The tool will be piloted and then applied in Colombia in 2021 (if the COVID-19 pandemic allows for it).

The adaptation to the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic included considering new approaches, such as a broader use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). The Colombian Roundtable for Sustainable Cattle (MGS in Spanish) is a multi-actor platform supporting the transformation towards a sustainable cattle sector. The MGS mainly focused on face-to-face activites, such as meetings for information exchange or capacity building events in the field, which had to be stopped once the pandemic had started in Colombia. In order to mitigate the related negative impacts during the strict lockdown, four MGS member institutions (FAO, National University of Colombia, CATIE and Alliance Bioversity-CIAT) decided to organise a virtual seminar series on sustainable beef and dairy systems and value chains. The objective of this article is to describe this effort, its reach and importance for the sector, its viral spread, as well as the lessons learned. The event was comprised by four modules, each with a weekly seminar during four weeks: i) greenhouse gases; ii) biodiversity, landscapes, and ecosystem services; iii) markets and consumers, and iv) agricultural extension. Each module invited experts from different institutions/sectors, to present their (scientific) advances and approaches. Initially aimed at the 53 MGS member institutions in order to keep the exchange active and build capacities, the initiative had an outstanding record of assistance, by reaching an average of 1,300 views/week. The importance of the topics and the viralisation of the initiative gathered people from 23 countries. The feedback received was very positive, and the attendees rated the presenters regarding clarity, level of expertise, time management, and if the goals were reached. About 30% of the audience were cattle producers, reaching a key stakeholder and contributing to strengthening their capacities regarding the implementation of sustainable production technologies. Other participants came from academia, NGOs, governmental institutions, and private companies. With these promising results and a big database of people interested in sustainable cattle production, the MGS could strengthen its role as actor for a regional dialogue, and contribute to the strengthening of the public policy framework and the formulation of high impact projects for sustainable intensification.

Projected food demand increases highlight the importance of Latin America as one of the big global future food suppliers, due to its agricultural potential, in particular regarding cattle farming. Despite the importance of the cattle sector for the region, its negative environmental impacts are numerous and the shift toward sustainability is perceived as slow and uncoordinated. This study aims at identifying successes and difficulties in the implementation of public policies for a sustainable cattle sector in Colombia, Argentina, and Costa Rica. Based on the review of scientific articles, government reports, and publications of international organizations, a qualitative comparative analysis was carried out, documenting the political developments between 2010 and 2020. Our findings suggest that public policies mainly focus on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the implementation of silvo-pastoral systems. Common successes exist among the three countries, e.g., a large number of public policies for promoting sustainable cattle farming or the inclusion of goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and implement silvo-pastoral systems, but they also coincide in difficulties, e.g., disconnection between policies and the lack of continuity of development programs. The efforts made with regional and national public policies, in addition to legislative advances, can be seen as initial steps in a long-term process toward sustainable cattle farming, and thus, recommendations are provided for increasing their success at different stages, from the identification of the problem to its evaluation, particularly in the face of financing difficulties, disconnection among policies and initiatives, and participation of citizens and livestock producers.

The global projections of population and food demand increases by 2050 highlight the importance of Latin America as one of the future big food suppliers for our planet. The region has high agricultural potential and activities such as cattle farming can increase the global food supply, i.e. through the adoption of sustainable technologies such as silvo-pastoral systems. Despite the importance of this economic sector for the region, its negative environmental impacts (especially those of traditional extensive production systems) are numerous and the shift towards sustainability is perceived as slow and uncoordinated. This study aims at identifying both success stories and difficulties in the implementation of public policies for the development of sustainable cattle production systems in Colombia, Argentina and Costa Rica during the period 2010-2020. Based on literature review, media analysis and legal document reviews, a qualitative descriptive analysis was carried out, documenting and outlining the main political activities in the region. The results highlight the development and application of policies aimed at the use of sustainable production technologies, the adaptation of pastures to changing environmental conditions and the use of silvo-pastoral systems for cattle production. Although common successes are identified in the three countries, such as the existence of a large number of public policies aimed at promoting sustainable livestock - which is strengthened through e.g. national level development plans and legislative advances - they also coincide in difficulties, such as a minimal articulation between national and local policies and the lack of continuity of development programs. We conclude that, although the selected countries have different socioeconomic characteristics, as well as different levels of progress in the implementation of their policies, the general perception among the three countries is relatively similar to the extent that their efforts are still insufficient, i.e. when the commitments made during the COP21 are being considered. Although the advances made so far provide valuable contributions, it is necessary to treat them as a first stage in a long-range process towards sustainability, and support their continuity and further out-scaling, i.e. for reaching the ultimate goal of a broader adoption of silvo-pastoral systems.

When examining the growth factors of the Latin American economies, it is observed that the promotion of rurality through agricultural production appears as a necessary condition. This is essential, not only because of its direct effects on food supply or job creation, but also because of its contribution to economic growth, its role in reducing poverty, inequality (IFAD, 2011) and environmental sustainability (Grisales, 2016). However, some data are in contrast to that: in recent decades, the participation of the agricultural sector in the total of economies has shown a decreasing trend across the globe. In the 1970s, the participation of this sector in GDP was significant in countries such as Colombia (30%), Brazil (20%) and Peru (19%). But already in 2009, its relevance was reduced, representing no more than 10% of the average production value of Latin American economies (Fernández et al., 2011). This scenario could be paved by the liberalization policies applied since the early 1990s, which mainly favored a limited number of large companies that were organizing themselves in value chains, leaving out a considerable number of small and medium producers, thus deriving in the wastage of the comparative advantages that would promote the participation of this sector in national production and, consequently, in profound socioeconomic consequences for the rural population (FAO, 2013). In Colombia, agricultural credit has not been immune to such dynamics: it has influenced the attenuation of this reality, and at the same time, it has been affected by the constant reforms. Although the participation of the State continues as a constant, the process of development of the credit institutions has obeyed the spirit of productivity and competitiveness, leaving aside many of the criteria in the long term. In short, these are processes that have historically influenced each other in multiple ways, and are both causes and consequences of structural and rural changes in Latin America (IFAD, 2016). These changes reveal a feeling of discomfort due to the conditions of agricultural activities, which are manifested mainly in the low technification of agriculture that generates an underutilization of land with agricultural potential, and in the high levels of poverty and social inequality. Despite progress in reducing the latter, the region continues to have the most regressive income distribution on the planet (FAO, 2013). But agricultural credit, in turn, and in the company of other political and economic elements, can be a useful tool to promote innovation, improve the allocation of resources and, properly directed, can contribute to reducing the gaps between companies, generating a cycle of economic prosperity (Abedullah et al., 2009; De la Vega et al., 2014; Echavarría et al., 2018). How has the Colombian agricultural credit system been affected and how has it intervened? A synthesis is provided by Estrada and Sandoval (2014) in their analysis of coffee credit. These authors affirm that credit is understood as a useful instrument to stimulate profitable activities, but it does not solve economic problems of a structural nature or replace a social policy. On both sides there are arguments that blur any attempt at a balance sheet. This is why the present work has been proposed to analyze the dynamics that shaped the current situation of agricultural credit. The objective of this study is to know what are the characteristics and responses that the system has had in the face of conjunctural processes, as well as to understand the processes of change derived from such situations. The aim is to break down the diversified portfolio of instruments that have been built in recent years and analyze their behavior. This also includes to review the barriers that prevent the credit system from having a greater reach among small producers in the most remote areas of the country. The study presents a central emphasis on livestock activity and its intricate path to sustainability. Its importance is indisputable: in terms of the annual value of production, livestock is equivalent to 3 times the coffee sector and about eight times the palm sector. It is the economic activity with the most presence in the Colombian countryside and contributes 1.4% of national GDP and generates around 6% of national employment (Fedegán, 2018). In turn, it is the agricultural activity with the highest occupation of the national territory and is considered one of the current drivers of deforestation in the country. These conditions reflect the low productivity of the livestock sector and are in turn a symptom of the need to generate investments in infrastructure and technologies (e.g. improved forage seeds).

How to improve the socioeconomic conditions of the producers and achieve a sustainable intensification of the cattle sector that is able to give continuity to projected increases in the demand for animal source food? Since the 1950s, formulas have been discussed and applied to answer this and similar questions. Among the multiple factors and elements that are traditionally used, this study highlights a constant in the equation: rural extension services. Although rural development does not go exclusively through extension work, it is a necessary condition to achieve progress in this matter: the creation of capacities in technical and economic matters regarding the pasture and animal management allows producers to get involved in the solution of problems they are affected by, and having these capacities allows stimulating, not only the adoption of more sustainable and productive technologies, but also a more rational use of the available resources. However, the documentation on the application of extension services in developing countries reveals the difficulties caused by multiple factors, including market failures, little participation of the private sector and the ineffectiveness of States with little capacity to reach the target population, among others (Cohen and Lemma, 2011). Nongovernmental organizations or the communities themselves are interesting alternative providers of these services, but they can also fail (Birner and Anderson, 2007). In recent decades, Colombia as an example for many other Latin American countries, has evidenced progress in planning processes, social interventions and a range of governance reforms. This includes democratization and decentralization of the different processes that include agricultural extension. These changes in governance and policies have led to an approach that seeks to improve service through greater participation of regions and departments, as well as private institutions and organizations. In this way, the objective of this work is to provide knowledge about the institutional evolution of rural extension in Colombia by identifying and analyzing those elements and processes that have culminated in the current configuration of extension services, understanding these as the processes aimed at institutional articulation that seek to promote the dynamics of innovation and value generation (Landini, 2016). The study is also about describing some case studies from the livestock sector, which were applied during the last decade with the aim of examining their development and the lessons learned that allow discussing more precise strategies for the near future.

The complex process behind the adoption of improved forages in Colombia remains largely unexplored. Despite governmental and scientific efforts to promote and disseminate the implementation of improved forages for the sake of sustainable livestock production, local livestock producers continue to extensively use native species and adoption rates of more efficient forages remain low. This study explores the dynamics behind the development and diffusion of improved forage technologies in Colombia, from the 1960's to the present through an Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) perspective. Here we map the agents involved, classify the roles they exerted over time and reconstruct the historical context in which the creation and dissemination of forage technologies in the country took form. Through the use of qualitative research tools such as in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and extensive archival work, we were able to identify various factors determining the course of improved forage adoption processes. First, a gradual declinement on public and private investment destined to agricultural research hindered national scientific agendas and affected the continuity of ongoing projects. Second, the primacy of interpersonal relationships further complicates this panorama as it can either interfere with or promote the use of improved forages, subjecting technology dissemination to a non-institutional realm. Thirdly, released technological packages remain incomplete and impede rising adoption rates, mainly due to both Colombia's low-latitude (and its restrictions for national seed production) and ineffective processes of training and support aimed at local livestock producers. Aside from the identification of key actors and historical trends, the study concludes by suggesting the implementation of a systematic (AIS) approach that gives account of the complex and ever changing process of forage adoption, its agents, roles, strengths and limitations so that a comprehensive diagnosis can serve as a guideline for ...

This study aims to combine theory on payments for ecosystem services (PES) with examples from practice, examining the meeting points, barriers and opportunities that have occured and can be developed by applying PES schemes for the establishment of silvopastoral systems in Colombia. This research is based on a framework in which political, economic, institutional, environmental and contextual factors are examined in order to generate a critical diagnosis of these elements in relation to the dynamics generated or that can be build from the implementation of such schemes. The implementation of PES in the country is analyzed and recommendations are provided on their effectiveness in order to integrate the opportunities and overcome the described challenges. ; Internal Review

The distribution of contaminated planting material (suckers) remains a major cause of spread of pests and diseases in banana. A traditional subsistence staple in East Africa, banana is becoming increasingly a commercialized commodity in the region. Essential for effective commercialization of this crop, however, is the supply and use of uniform and healthy planting material. Tissue culture (TC) technology can help provide this. However, TC plantlets are delicate and require substantially greater care and handling than conventional sucker planting material. To distribute TC seedlings to farmers and improve their robustness for successful use on farms, numerous hardening nurseries have been established by TC producers in Kenya, Uganda and Burundi. These nurseries are pivotal in the dissemination of plantlets. In 2008, financing, handling, hardening and marketing of TC-derived planting material through nurseries was assessed using semi-quantitative interviews of nursery operators. The nurseries in Kenya and Uganda are mostly farmer-led and obtain their material from the producer. In Burundi, the nurseries are owned and centrally managed by the producer, while daily activities are handled by technicians. In each country, water supply was identified as a key limiting factor, as the young plantlets desiccate easily. In farmer-led nurseries, plantlet transport and phytosanitary measures, such as soil sterilization and plant protection, are often limited, which can lead to significant plant losses. Governmental and non-governmental institutions purchase large fractions of the TC planting material. Public extension services for TC nurseries were evaluated as poor, leaving the TC producers as the single source of information for nursery operators. Additionally, plantlets tend to be viewed as relatively expensive, while supply is currently sub-optimal, compared to traditional planting material, resulting in a relatively limited and exclusive market. TC planting material in the region is therefore yet to be become sufficiently available for most banana farmers. ; Peer Review