RESUMO

The Nagoya Protocol is a legal framework focused on the Access and Benefit Sharing of genetic resources, including Biological Control Agents. In order to comply with the Nagoya Protocol, countries in Latin America are establishing legal frameworks for access to genetic resources. Scientists face the challenges of the bureaucratic and administrative burden to obtain the access permits to study the biodiversity present in Latin American countries, which include the evaluation of biological control agents that can be used in sustainable production programs. In order to avoid the demotivation of scientists and students to work on biological control by blocking the opportunities to get new bioproducts, it is important to increase the communication between the regulatory authorities and the scientific community, to ensure the establishment of an effective structure and mechanisms to facilitate the process and reduce the time needed to obtain the access permits. On the other hand, the establishment of regional platforms for the exchange of information and harmonization of procedures can contribute to reinforce the collaboration among Latin American countries and facilitate regional studies and biocontrol activities. In this article, the legal framework in place in different countries in Latin America will be discussed and some possible solutions and ways forward to the major challenges observed will be presented.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Restrictions placed on the distribution of biological material by the legislation of countries such as India, South Africa, or Brazil exclude strains that could serve as type material for the validation or valid publication of prokaryotic species names. This problem goes beyond prokaryotic taxonomy and is also relevant for other areas of biological research.

Assuntos

RESUMO

La producción peruana de cacao representa aproximadamente el 2% de la producción mundial; con una contribución muy reconocida por la calidad y diversidad de sus sabores y aromas. De milenario origen amazónico y probada utilización de hace por lo menos 5200 años, este cultivo recién ha sido visible para el desarrollo agrario en las dos últimas décadas, cuando se le ha utilizado con relativo éxito en la sustitución de cultivos ilegales de coca ¿Y qué tanto está contribuyendo la academia a la cadena de valor del cacao? Con carácter exploratorio, se registró y analizó una muestra de 44 tesis que tenían como objeto de estudio el cacao, obtenido por sus autores en los centros de producción y parcelas de productores. La mayor parte de estas tesis (41) estuvieron destinadas a obtener títulos profesionales, dos para optar el grado de magister y uno para obtener el grado de doctorado. Estas tesis se realizaron en universidades de 13 departamentos del Perú, contando Lima con el mayor número de tesis (12). Once tesis abarcaron actividades de investigación del germoplasma para la transformación y/o la innovación del cacao, confiriéndole así valor agregado con potencial uso comercial. Estas investigaciones estuvieron relacionadas con cuatro sectores productivos con un claro potencial comercial en el mercado global de recursos genéticos. En ningún caso, las investigaciones se realizaron bajo la seguridad jurídica del sistema de acceso a recursos genéticos y participación justa y equitativa de beneficios del Protocolo de Nagoya, del Convenio sobre la Diversidad Biológica.

The Peruvian production of cocoa represents, approximately, 2% of the world production, with a very recognized contribution because of the quality and diversity of its flavors and aromas. With a millenary Amazonian origin and proved utilization by at least 5200 years ago, this crop just became visible for the agrarian development in the last two decades, when it was used with relative success for the substitution of illegal coca crops. And how much is the academy contributing to the value chain of cocoa? A sample of 44 theses which cocoa obtained from production centers and farmers plots was their object of study, has been registered and analyzed in an exploratory way. 41 theses were to get professional titles, two for magister degree and one for doctorate degree. These theses were done in universities of 13 Department of Peru, where Lima reached the highest number (12). Eleven theses addressed germplasm research activities aimed to cocoa transformation and/or innovation, thus conferring added value with potential commercial use. These researches were related to four productive sectors with a clear potential in the global market of genetic resources. In any case, the studies were done under the legal certainty of the system of access to genetic resources and fair and equitable benefit-sharing of the Nagoya Protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

RESUMO

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The Peruvian Amazon holds more than 1000 plant species with commercial potential and the national sales of natural products derived from medicinal and aromatic plants have exceeded $ 400 million per year. Research and development activities carried out on the genetic and biochemical composition of Peruvian flora have to abide by national and international regulations, such as the Nagoya Protocol (NP). AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this paper is to describe the implications of the current implementation of the NP in Peru for performing research on national genetic resources. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review of the current legal framework and status of the NP in Peru was performed accompanied by first-hand experience undertaken by submitting a request for access to genetic resources related to wild continental species. RESULTS: So far, Peru has issued 16 Internationally Recognized Certificates of Compliance (IRCCs) through 2 of the identified National Authorities. Some of the difficulties and challenges observed have to do with the degree of effective implementation of the Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) system, the fact that the application process is not sufficiently clear, and the wide gap between this formal system and what occurs informally outside of it. In response to this, training and implementation projects have been launched and a new law on the access to genetic resources has been proposed. CONCLUSIONS: The difficulties observed still represent an obstacle to scientific research and the development of new commercial products based on Peruvian traditional knowledge and genetic resources. Although improvements have been made to the ABS framework, there remain major challenges to encouraging and ascertaining the equitable and sustainable use of Peru's biodiversity.

Assuntos

RESUMO

RESUMEN Se realiza un análisis empírico y actualizado de las solicitudes de patente en trámite ante la oficina colombiana de patentes y que requieren de contrato de acceso a recursos genéticos y/o productos derivados (CARG o PD). Se identifican 15 casos y a partir del análisis del trámite, se describen los principales mitos existentes sobre este tema, analizando para cada uno si se trata de afirmaciones ciertas o falsas. Se destaca que hay mejoras en los tiempos y número de contratos de acceso firmados por parte del Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible (MADS), que los solicitantes de patente y/o apoderados no están haciendo un correcto uso de la declaración juramentada o divulgación de origen sobre uso de recursos genéticos y/o productos derivados, y que aún se debe mejorar en la identificación de casos que requieren CARG o PD por parte de la Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio (SIC). Asimismo, se estudian las obligaciones adquiridas por los firmantes del CARG o PD y los beneficios monetarios y no monetarios acordados con el MADS, encontrando que mientras las obligaciones suelen ser estándar para todos los CARG o PD, los beneficios pactados tanto monetarios como no monetarios sí son distintos. Se enuncian estadísticas actualizadas de los contratos de acceso firmados. Se concluye identificando los principales temas y destinatarios que deben reforzarse en las capacitaciones de estos asuntos y los espacios para mejorar la interacción entre el MADS, la SIC y los usuarios e investigadores.

ABSTRACT An empirical and updated analysis is made of the patent applications that are processed in the Colombian patent office and that require a contract for access to genetic resources or derivatives (CARG or PD). 15 cases of this type of requests are identified and from the study of the process, the main existing myths on this subject are identified, analyzing for each one whether they are true or false statements. It is highlighted that there are improvements in the times and number of access contracts signed by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MADS), that patent applicants and /or attorneys are not making a correct use of the sworn statement about the use of genetic resources or PD, and that still needs to be improved in the identification of cases that require CARG or PD by the Patent Office Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC). Likewise, the obligations acquired by the signatories of the CARG or PD and the monetary and non-monetary benefits that the MADS is demanding are analyzed, finding that while the obligations are usually standard for all the CARG or PD, the agreed benefits, both monetary and non-monetary are different. It concludes by identifying the main topics and actors on which the training on these issues should be reinforced and the spaces to improve the interaction between the patents and environmental authorities.