Entering the final month of 2020, China has made marked achievements in alleviating poverty, where IP plays an unexpected and unique role.
In recent years, China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) has explored effective ways to lift rural people out of poverty through patented technologies, trademarked brands and geographical identifications (GIs), according to a press conference held by the State Council Information Office on November 26.
CNIPA attaches much importance to providing information of patented technologies for poverty-stricken areas by launching IP website services and establishing Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISCs) with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). In 2019, relevant services, especially those connecting IP information with targeted poverty alleviation projects, played a vital role in tackling challenges in planting and processing agricultural products and protecting ecological environment in Shanxi, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and other provinces. For example, edible mushroom cultivation is one of the poverty alleviation industries in Fenxi County, Shanxi Province. However, there were problems such as edible fungi medium preparation and green recycling techniques in developing the industry for a long time. Professionals analyzed relevant patent documents and developed an eco-friendly way by using bio-safety processed straw and cow dung in edible mushroom cultivation. The measure helps create over 90 percent of fungi coverage, cut around 20 percent of the cost and sustains local farmers.
The poverty-relief industry has developed with great help from IP. According to statistics, more than 60 percent of regions are abundant with GIs resources among 832 underdeveloped counties having climbed out of poverty. As of the end of October, a total of 2,385 had been approved for GI protection, 5,935 GI trademarks registered and 9,224 enterprises certified to use GIs. Twenty-four demonstration areas of GI product protection were set up, covering all major counties in the national poverty alleviation program and 14 contiguous areas and other extra underdeveloped regions.
In a bid to give full play of IP in helping targeted poverty reduction, CNIPA has launched 21 projects to promote GI application in poverty-stricken regions since 2019. To date, more than 10 million yuan has been invested in 43 state-level poverty-stricken counties in 17 provinces with 32 GIs involved. An investment of over 120 million yuan offered by local governments has created an output value of more than 21 billion yuan in GI industries and 4 billion yuan in relevant product processing, business logistics and tourist trade, benefiting over 600,000 poverty-stricken people in these areas.
Sangzhi County in Hunan Province and Chongli District in Hebei Province are CNIPA's two designated poverty alleviation regions, where IP functions well in lifting rural people out of poverty through protection and commercial use of GIs, such as Sangzhi White Tea, and the development of the production-marketing pattern of integrating specialized farmer cooperatives, brands, industries and low-income families. These are the vivid practices of poverty alleviation with the assistance of IP system.(by Yang Liu)
（Editor Dou Yike）
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