Fast Science and Sluggish Policy: The Herculean Task of Regulating Biodiscovery

Wynberg, Rachel; Laird, Sarah A

doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2017.09.002

Cited by 30 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…In addition, the current policy environment leaves critical aspects of the food system, such as marketing and distribution, to the private sector, which may have a different agenda. Furthermore, it leaves the holders of the indigenous and local knowledge about these diverse crops vulnerable to corporate patents that do not take into account access and benefit sharing legislation [122][123][124][125]. Transformative change should be underpinned by robust scientific evidence.…”

Section: Conclusion and Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mainstreaming Underutilized Indigenous and Traditional Crops into Food Systems: A South African Perspective

et al. 2018

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Business as usual or transformative change? While the global agro-industrial food system is credited with increasing food production, availability and accessibility, it is also credited with giving birth to ‘new’ challenges such as malnutrition, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. We reviewed the potential of underutilized indigenous and traditional crops to bring about a transformative change to South Africa’s food system. South Africa has a dichotomous food system, characterized by a distinct, dominant agro-industrial, and, alternative, informal food system. This dichotomous food system has inadvertently undermined the development of smallholder producers. While the dominant agro-industrial food system has led to improvements in food supply, it has also resulted in significant trade-offs with agro-biodiversity, dietary diversity, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic stability, especially amongst the rural poor. This challenges South Africa’s ability to deliver on sustainable and healthy food systems under environmental change. The review proposes a transdisciplinary approach to mainstreaming underutilized indigenous and traditional crops into the food system, which offers real opportunities for developing a sustainable and healthy food system, while, at the same time, achieving societal goals such as employment creation, wellbeing, and environmental sustainability. This process can be initiated by researchers translating existing evidence for informing policy-makers. Similarly, policy-makers need to acknowledge the divergence in the existing policies, and bring about policy convergence in pursuit of a food system which includes smallholder famers, and where underutilized indigenous and traditional crops are mainstreamed into the South African food system.

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Section: Conclusion and Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mainstreaming Underutilized Indigenous and Traditional Crops into Food Systems: A South African Perspective

et al. 2018

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“…Keeping in mind that the Article 15/2 of the CBD also highlights the importance of creating conditions facilitating access to GR for environmentally sound use, providers should acknowledge the importance of the use of species information and regulate ABS matters in a way that would not hinder activities that contribute to the global knowledge on species and their conservation. Lawmakers in provider countries should take into account the technological developments in the field of GR and create systems that aim to foster scientific research on intangible biodiversity components in order to refrain from hindering technological advancement (Wynberg & Laird, ).…”

Section: International Abs Goalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A balanced ABS system: Stakeholder perception on ABS goals

Sirakaya

2020

Sustainable Development

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The current perception regarding the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol is that the national implementations bring complexities for both the provider countries and users of genetic resources (GR) which result in less willingness to access GR. Users frequently face non-compliance penalties or public notoriety due to the lack of clarity of access and benefit-sharing (ABS) obligations. Less access would inevitably result in fewer benefits shared and this vicious cycle would jeopardise the success of the entirety of the ABS system. Therefore, there is an apparent need for a methodology in regulating ABS models in a way that is supportive for both the provider countries and users. This article serves as the introductory part of a comprehensive study on creating a methodology for mutually supportive ABS systems for users and providers by introducing international ABS goals and the stakeholders' (both users and providers) perceptions thereof. K E Y W O R D S

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“…Overall, it is unfortunate that a major factor contributing to the decline in the investigation of plant resources, as potential medicines and consumer products, and for local uses in the countries of origin, has been linked to problems with the implementation of the very international treaties that were intended to encourage it, namely, the CBD and the NP (see CBD and Commercial Use). A more fundamental critique is that the current model still maintains in essence a colonialist approach which covers links between countries but does not provide clear guidance on the need for arrangements at a national level regarding equitable access to resources, for example, indigenous knowledge (Wynberg and Laird, 2018). The treaties and the possibilities of developing ABS mechanisms offer an opportunity to overcome such inequalities through national dialogues.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Schindel et al (2015) even claimed "Researchers in industrialized countries reflect back on those open borders as a golden age of research and development." Wynberg and Laird (2018) highlighted the "dramatic differences in the pace of policy development and scientific and technological advances" relating to ABS as well as in many other fields. However, the implications of such differences have not been addressed systematically (see Prathapan et al, 2018) and they request expressis verbis that "parties to the CBD do more to raise the legal curtain that has fallen between biodiversity scientists and the biodiversity they strive to discover, document, and conserve."…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Access and Benefit Sharing Under the Nagoya Protocol—Quo Vadis? Six Latin American Case Studies Assessing Opportunities and Risk

et al. 2020

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Conclusions: Different policies in the six countries result in very diverse strategies and opportunities relating to the equitable use of biodiversity. A long-term strategy is required to facilitate a better understanding of the treaties and the resulting opportunities for a fairer development and implementation of transparent national polices, which currently differ in the six countries. So far, the benefits envisioned by the CBD and the NP remain unfulfilled for all stakeholders involved including local communities.

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Fast Science and Sluggish Policy: The Herculean Task of Regulating Biodiscovery

Cited by 30 publications

References 4 publications

Mainstreaming Underutilized Indigenous and Traditional Crops into Food Systems: A South African Perspective

Mainstreaming Underutilized Indigenous and Traditional Crops into Food Systems: A South African Perspective

A balanced ABS system: Stakeholder perception on ABS goals

Access and Benefit Sharing Under the Nagoya Protocol—Quo Vadis? Six Latin American Case Studies Assessing Opportunities and Risk

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