Biopiracy Examples
The following examples of biopiracy show a lack of acknowledgment, consent, or benefit-sharing with the communities or countries of origin when biological resources or traditional knowledge were exploited:
Neem Tree (Azadirachta indica)
Known for its pesticidal qualities, the neem tree is native to India. It came to the notice of the world in the 1990s. Businesses copyrighted items containing neem without giving due credit or acknowledgment to the centuries-old traditional knowledge of Indian people using neem. This biopiracy of neem created a debate over the unethical commercialization of indigenous knowledge.
Basmati Rice
Biopiracy of basmati rice happened when a U.S. corporation claimed to be the owner of specific qualities of a strain of basmati rice that it had patented in the late 1990s. Since basmati rice types have been farmed and refined over generations by traditional rice producers in Pakistan and India, this action received criticism for potentially harming them. The patent was eventually challenged and consolidated following a legal fight.
Hoodia cactus (Hoodia gordonii)
Hoodia gordonii, or the Hoodia cactus, is an indigenous plant used traditionally by Southern African people to prevent hunger during extended hunts. A pharmaceutical corporation copyrighted the active component for weight loss goals in the early 2000s without providing communities with sufficient compensation. This raised concerns about the absence of benefit-sharing and the abuse of traditional knowledge.
Quinoa
Known for its high nutritious content, quinoa is a staple crop in South America’s Andes area. International businesses patented quinoa variants without acknowledging indigenous populations for their contributions to the invention and farming of the crop. This raised concerns about biopiracy and the requirement for fair compensation and acknowledgment.
Also Read: Biology Biotechnology And Its Application
What is Biopiracy? – Definition, Effects, and Examples
Biopiracy refers to biological resource theft by researchers or research groups without approval from the government. This frequently occurs when researchers take traditional knowledge without consent or take advantage of the cultures they are studying. As the people who found or developed the resources do not receive a portion of the earnings, biopiracy is regarded as unethical or comparable to theft.
Businesses often file legal proceedings to stop other people from accessing or profiting from the resources. In this article, we will look into the definition, meaning, examples, types, and effects of Biopiracy.
Table of Content
- What is Biopiracy?
- Biopiracy Examples
- Significance of Traditional Knowledge
- Types of Biopiracy
- Effects of Biopiracy
- Bioprospecting and Biopiracy