Question

How are industrialised nations exploiting the bioresources? Give one example.

Answer 1

Industrialised nations and corporations may collect and patent genetic resources, identify and commercialise valuable biomolecules, isolate useful genes, or use local traditional knowledge to develop products and seek patents. This can generate profits for companies while leaving source communities unrewarded and potentially forcing them to buy the resulting products.

Example: The West African plant Pentadiplandra brazzeana has long been known locally for its very sweet berries. The protein brazzein and the gene encoding it were patented in the United States, illustrating concerns about the commercial appropriation of biological resources and traditional knowledge.