Challenges of Justice in the Context of Plant Genetic Resources

Abstract

In this article, I discuss access and benefit-sharing (ABS) for plant genetic resources from an ethical perspective. This leads to the question of what types of justice actually play a role when more equity and fairness is demanded for plant genetic resources. Five dimensions of justice will be distinguished: classical distributive justice, which deals with a fair distribution of goods; commutative justice, which concerns a fair exchange of “give-and-receive”; justice as recognition, which relates to treating all involved parties with the same respect; reparative justice, which pertains to fair amendments for wrongful actions in the past; and procedural justice, which is concerned with just decision processes. Drawing on the discussion of ethical problems with biopiracy, the distribution of environmental burdens, and plant genetic resources in agriculture, I will illustrate that the use of genetic resources poses challenges across all five dimensions of justice. Because the combination of justice challenges is specific for each case of resource use, I will argue that it is important that users of genetic resources are aware of the complexity of justice problems to ensure fair and equitable ABS negotiations.

Banana seed genetic resources for food security: Status, constraints, and future priorities

“…At present, such a system exists in the Genesys database (Data providers & the Crop Trust, 2020), however, as demonstrated in the present study, most seed collections are not part of this system. Such a meta‐collection may help to overcome some of the political and ethical barriers in relation to access and benefit sharing of plant genetic resources (Deplazes‐Zemp, 2019; Fredriksson, 2020; Neumann et al, 2018). Recent evidence suggests that such barriers are being rethought (Laird et al, 2020; Louafi & Welch, 2021; Williams et al, 2020), as the global community seeks to address shared key challenges of biodiversity loss and food security.…”

Biocultural Rights, Indigenous Peoples And Local Communities

“…The international NGO and UN communities are aware of the intricate links between environmental degradation and social inequity, and therefore a concern for social justice for IPLCs exists (Brosius et al, 1998, p. 158). This is especially true of BCPs, which are also part of a process towards a greater recognition of IPLCs' rights over their genetic resources and TK, and are thus likely to meet several "justice challenges" associated with genetic resources and TK (see Deplazes-Zemp, 2019).…”