tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post374268505452449256..comments2024-03-29T06:53:23.405+00:00Comments on The IPKat: Katsandra Speaks Out - Nagoya Part VIIVerónica RodrÃguez Arguijohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05763207846940036921noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-34250938078818876742014-01-28T18:03:35.006+00:002014-01-28T18:03:35.006+00:00As applied to bioprospecting, the Regulation would...As applied to bioprospecting, the Regulation would not be too bad. Bioprospecting is a minor activity (up to 1% of all GR research, at a generous estimate). But the Regulation applies to ALL (non-human) GR. This is overkill. For research on such GR, before you can safely embark on it, you must generally prove that your material (or its forbears) has not been illegally removed from a country that claims rights in it. This is rarely going to be simple, always tedious, and too often totally impracticable. The notion that such requirements will <b>promote</b> the conservation and use of genetic resources (major objectives of the CBD) is risible.Tim Robertsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-67438226787092466732014-01-27T15:40:32.477+00:002014-01-27T15:40:32.477+00:00I think the last paragraph is key to this discussi...I think the last paragraph is key to this discussion. Without denying that their is a huge expectation from biodiversity-rich countries and their renewed "green gold" (a fact which was already discussed by numerous academics), a concurring problem is that the discussion on benefits is often narrowed down to a mono-dimensional view on monetary benefits. However, numerous other forms of benefits are envisaged in the Protocol, as this article rightly states. <br /><br />While it is correct that in particular biotech sectors (but then again big differences exist: eg. the use of GR is very different in the cosmetics industry for example), few research endeavours actually lead to commercial products, much of the intermediary steps in the research chain, including the increased knowledge and understanding of certain characteristics of genetic resources and traditional knowledge form a benefit in themselves. <br /><br />What is important to understand with the Nagoya Protocol, is that while the (re)distributive aspect is often brought forward as the outcome of a fair ABS exchange, matters of recognition, participation, self-determination and autonomy are equally at play. For instance, allowing researchers to join the research team and/or establishing joint ownership of IPR would recognize the origin of the original resource, would allow developing country researchers to join international research and could allow them to start their own research, combining it with knowledge they might already possess or know of (eg. traditional knowledge). All of this without additional cost for the biotech company.Brendan Coolsaethttp://biogov.uclouvain.be/staff/coolsaet/brendan.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-39610065325758323152014-01-25T15:49:51.667+00:002014-01-25T15:49:51.667+00:00Just after I posted this, I found this news item f...Just after I posted this, I found this news item from the European Parliament:<br /><br />http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20140121IPR33309/html/Environment-MEPs-back-agreement-on-benefit-sharing-of-genetic-resources<br /><br />This suggests that, since the environment committee has approved the current draft of the Regulation, it is very likely to pass into law in this form. It is scheduled for vote in European Parliament in March and Council would presumably adopt a decision not long after.Darren Smythhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04252776942038752516noreply@blogger.com