Bioprospecting

Bioprospecting is the collecting and testing of biological samples of, for example, plants, animals, or other living organisms as well as indigenous knowledge about the properties and uses of these materials. Bioprospecting is often conducted to obtain novel materials for new products such as pharmaceuticals or new plant strains. Before 1992, bioprospecting was not constrained and collections could be made without permission, However, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, 1992) affirmed the sovereign rights of countries over their biological resources within their borders. Bioprospecting has to be allowed by the biodiversity-rich country and must benefit it (and the communities that traditionally use these resources) Now the resource rich countries must provide informed consent and be told how its benefits will be shared.