Bill 117.

Summary.

The bill establishes the Agricultural Research and Innovation Institute of Panama (Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Agropecuaria de Panamá, IDIAP), formerly the Agricultural Innovation Institute of Panama (Instituto de Innovación Agropecuaria de Panamá), as a public entity serving the public interest, with legal personality and financial and technical autonomy. It places the institute under the general guidance of the Executive Branch (Órgano Ejecutivo), through the Ministry of Agricultural Development (Ministerio de Desarrollo Agropecuario), and the oversight of the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic (Contraloría General de la República). It defines concepts relating to agriculture, producers, research, innovation, genetic resources, biological efficacy, and agricultural technology linkages. It assigns IDIAP responsibility for conducting agricultural scientific research and developing and adapting technology in coordination with national policy and development plans.

Its objectives include strengthening the agricultural technology base, addressing climate variability, contributing to agri-food chains and food security and sovereignty, conserving biodiversity, and training researchers. It could design and disseminate research, guide and certify research conducted by the nongovernmental sector, enter into agreements, provide services, and charge fees. It could also supply seeds and genetic material, certify the biological efficacy of products and the characteristics of new varieties and breeds, and impose the sanctions established for that purpose. It would manage its assets, budget, and personnel and serve as the Republic of Panama’s counterpart in international matters concerning agricultural research and innovation.

The proposed structure includes a Board of Directors, a General Directorate, a Deputy General Directorate, a General Secretariat, national directorates, and research and innovation centers. The Board of Directors would approve plans, regulations, the budget, fees, the career structure, and the establishment of centers; decide appeals; and authorize transactions exceeding 500,000.01 balboas (B/.500,000.01). Its members include representatives of the Agricultural Development Bank (Banco de Desarrollo Agropecuario), the National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation (Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación), and the University of Panama (Universidad de Panamá). It could establish regional centers under the arrangement provided for in Law 39 of 2018. The director general, appointed by the Executive Branch and ratified by the National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional), would implement plans, manage personnel, decide motions for reconsideration, and register intellectual property with the General Directorate of Intellectual Property (Dirección General de Propiedad Intelectual) of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (Ministerio de Comercio e Industrias). The proposal sets requirements for that position, the deputy director general, and the national directors. The centers would address technological needs by product, ecoregion, or production system.

The Institutional Strategic Plan would guide projects and be prepared for a six-year period, with updates every three years and participation by internal and external stakeholders. IDIAP could expand its centers, experimental stations, and services. Its assets would include appropriations, loans, its own revenue, property, donations, royalties, and trusts. The bill provides for a trust funded by sales, royalties, services, and contributions, including a share of the Special Interest Compensation Fund (Fondo Especial de Compensación de Intereses) of at least 10% of the amount allocated to the agricultural sector. Interest earned by the trust would finance training, equipment, and infrastructure with prior authorization from the Board of Directors; the National Bank of Panama (Banco Nacional de Panamá) would serve as trustee. Another fund would finance biological efficacy testing through a trust at the National Bank of Panama or the Savings Bank (Caja de Ahorros). IDIAP would have authority to collect debts through coercive collection proceedings.

Activities would be carried out in accordance with Law 127 of 2020. State resources for agricultural research would be channeled through IDIAP, to which the rights, property, bank balances, and appropriations of the Agricultural Innovation Institute of Panama would be transferred. The bill supersedes Law 51 of August 28, 1975 and repeals Law 162 of September 4, 2020. Its provisions could be of interest to agricultural producers, researchers, scientific centers, and input suppliers; they also concern the National Government, the Ministry of Economy and Finance (Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas), and the public oversight, financing, and educational entities mentioned.