Biopiracy

• It is often assumed that traditional knowledge is in public domain and the local communities have no claims over it. Hence, such knowledge can be easily misappropriated.
• Biopiracy here refers to the appropriation of traditional knowledge of biodiversity by outsiders and companiesand it includes fraudulent patenting of such biological resources for profit.
• Some examples of biopiracy in India:
  • Turmeric:In 1995, two NRIs in the US were awarded a patent for the wound-healing property of turmeric. India’s Council of Scientific and Industrial Research contested the patent on the argument that the medicinal properties of turmeric were known to Indians since centuries. The patent was cancelled.
  • Basmati Rice:In 1997, the US firm Rice Tec obtained patents for Basmati Rice line and grains, arguing that they invented the variety. Due to massive protests, some of their claims were rejected.
  • Neem:In 1994, the European Patent Office awards a patent to the US firm, W.R. Grace for a method of controlling fungi on plants by the aid of Neem oil. NGOs and Indian farmers successfully contested this patent.
• It is not always easy to fight against biopiracy. In this era of globalization, it is important to record all such traditional and local knowledge of biodiversity.

Source: ForumIAS