In order to achieve higher food production and careful assessment of their valuable products, developing countries urgently need access to the latest scientific developments. To contribute towards this goal, IPBO will establish a network of highly qualified institutes and laboratories in Europe, the US and Japan, to respond to the local needs of the developing countries. The aim is not only to transfer technology but also to stimulate the developing countries to become independent and competitive in their biotechnology research. To accomplish this, IPBO will help the partners in developing countries to identify the agricultural needs, which cannot be solved by conventional means. Then, IPBO will contact qualified research groups from the network and develop a strategy to solve the problem. Finally, collaboration, if necessary including basic training, will be set up with the third world partner. The explicit intention is that, after the training, the third world partner will pursue the development of the research in its own country. By establishing a network of highly qualified groups, IPBO will, besides the strengthening of research capabilities of the third world partners, also stimulate the interest of the highly qualified institutes in western countries for the problems of developing countries.

Next to its role of negotiator, IPBO will also carry out its own research addressing agricultural productivity needs of smallholder farmers and capturing value of biodiversity in developing countries.