Abstract
The use of living organisms or natural substances to counteract the damage caused by harmful organisms to economically and/or ecologically important species has provided significant benefits to the global community. The Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol, a supplementary agreement to it, regulate access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable distribution of benefits arising out of their utilization. Despite the good intentions pursued by the international regime—mainly, the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity—, non-strategic national measures adopted pursuant to the Convention and the Protocol may create obstacles or even impede access to, and use of biological control genetic resources. In view of that, this paper recommends different pathways the scientists and practitioners working in the field of biological control may consider in order to enhance access to these resources.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
ABS Information Forum (2016) Codes of conduct and best practices. https://nagoyaprotocol.myspecies.info/node/7. Accessed 25 October 2022
Acharya R (1999) The emergence and growth of biotechnology: experiences in industrialised and developing countries. Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham
Adler Miserendino R, Meyer R, Zimkus B, Bates J, Silvestri L, Taylor C, Blumenfield T, Srigyan M, Pandey J (2022) The case for community self-governance on access and benefit sharing of digital sequence information. BioScience 72:405–408
Baker BP, Green TA, Loker AJ (2020) Biological control and integrated pest management in organic and conventional systems. Biol Control 140:104095
Balentine KM, Pratt PD, Dray FA, Rayamajhi MB, Center TD (2009) Geographic distribution and regional impacts of Oxyops vitiosa (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Boreioglycaspis melaleucae (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), biological control agents of the invasive tree Melaleuca quinquenervia. Environ Entomol 38:1145–1154
Barber CV, Glowka L, La Viña A (2002) Developing and implementing national measures for genetic resources access regulation and benefit-sharing. In: Laird S (ed) Biodiversity and traditional knowledge—equitable partnerships in practice. Earthscan, London and Sterling, pp 363–414
Busson M, Chetty J, Robin M, Aubertot J (2019) Biocontrol: definition. Dictionnaire d'agroecologie. https://dicoagroecologie.fr/en/encyclopedia/biocontrol/. Accessed 25 October 2022
Cabrera Medaglia J (2020) Digital sequence information (DSI) and benefit-sharing arising from its use: an unfinished discussion. GRUR International 69:565–566
Cock MJW, van Lenteren JC, Brodeur J, Barratt BIP, Bigler F, Bolckmans K, Cônsoli FL, Haas F, Mason PG, Parra JRP (2009) The use and exchange of biological control agents for food and agriculture. FAO background study paper No. 47. https://www.fao.org/3/ak569e/ak569e.pdf. Accessed 10 October 2022
Cock MJW, van Lenteren JC, Brodeur J, Barratt BIP, Bigler F, Bolckmans K, Cônsoli FL, Haas F, Mason PG, Parra JRP (2010) Do new access and benefit sharing procedures under the Convention on Biological Diversity threaten the future of biological control? BioControl 55:199–218
Collins JE, Sirakayac A, Vanagt T, Huys I (2020) Developing a methodology to balance benefit-sharing: application in the context of biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction. Genet Resour 1:24–39
Correa CM (2005) Do national access regimes promote the use of genetic resources and benefit sharing? Int J Environ Sustain Dev 4:444–463
Coulson JR, Vail PV, Dix ME, Nordlund DA, Kauffman WC (2000) 110 years of biological control research and development in the United States Department of Agriculture 1883–1993. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/175937. Accessed 26 October 2022
Curci J (2010) The protection of biodiversity and traditional knowledge in international law of intellectual property. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Day MD, Winston RL (2016) Biological control of weeds in the 22 Pacific island countries and territories: current status and future prospects. Neobiota 30:167–192
De Carvalho N (2007) From the shaman’s hut to the patent office: a road under construction. In: McManis C (ed) Biodiversity and the law: intellectual property, biotechnology and traditional knowledge, 1st edn. Routledge, London, pp 241–279
De Jonge B, Louwaars N (2009) The diversity of principles underlying the concept of benefit sharing. In: Kamau E, Winter G (eds) Genetic resources, traditional knowledge and the law: solutions for access and benefit sharing, 1st edn. Earthscan, London and Sterling, pp 37–56
Decision 2/14 of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP) of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing (NP) on digital sequence information on genetic resources (2016). https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/np-mop-02/np-mop-02-dec-14-en.pdf. Accessed 10 October 2022
Decision XIII/16 of the Conference of the Parties (COP) of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) on digital sequence information on genetic resources (2016). https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-13/cop-13-dec-16-en.pdf. Accessed 10 October 2022
Decision 14/20 of the Conference of the Parties (COP) of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) on digital sequence information on genetic resources (2018). https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-14/cop-14-dec-20-en.pdf. Accessed 25 October 2022
FuEDEI (2022) Foundation for the Study of Invasive Species. https://www.ars.usda.gov/office-of-international-research-engagement-and-cooperation/argentina/. Accessed 26 October 2022
Gaskin JF, Bon M-C, Cock MJW, Cristofaro M, Biase AD, De Clerck-Floate R, Ellison CA, Hinz HL, Hufbauer RA, Julien MH, Sforza R (2011) Applying molecular-based approaches to classical biological control of weeds. Biol Control 58:1–21
Glowka L (2000) Bioprospecting, alien invasive species, and hydrothermal vents: three emerging legal issues in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Tulane Environ Law J 13:329–360
Godt C (2009) Enforcement of benefit-sharing duties in user countries. In: Kamau E, Winter G (eds) Genetic resources, traditional knowledge and the law: solutions for access and benefit sharing, 1st edn. Earthscan, London and Sterling, pp 419–438
Gollin MA (2002) Linking intellectual property rights with traditional medicine. In: Iwu M, Wootton J (eds) Ethomedicine and drug discovery, 1st edn. Elservier, Amsterdam, pp 201–219
Greco NM, Cabrera Walsh G, Luna MG (2020) Biological control in Argentina. In: van Lenteren JC, Bueno VHP, Luna MG, Colmenarez TC (eds) Biological control in Latin America and the Caribbean: its rich history and bright future. CAB International, Wallingford, pp 21–42
Greiber T, Peña Moreno S, Åhrén M, Nieto Carrasco J, Kamau EC, Cabrera Medaglia J, Oliva MJ, Perron-Welchin cooperation with F, Ali N, William C (2012) An explanatory guide to the Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit-sharing. IUCN, Gland
Heinrich M, Scotti F, Andrade-Cetto A, Berger-Gonzalez M, Echeverría J, Friso F, Garcia-Cardona F, Hesketh A, Hitziger M, Maake C, Politi M, Spadafora C, Spadafora R (2020) Access and benefit sharing under the Nagoya Protocol — quo vadis? Six Latin American case studies assessing opportunities and risk. Front Pharmacol 11:1–19
Houssen W, Rodrigo S, Jaspars M (2020) Digital sequence information on genetic resources: concept, scope and current use. Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. https://www.cbd.int/doc/c/fef9/2f90/70f037ccc5da885dfb293e88/dsi-ahteg-2020-01-03-en.pdf. Accessed 11 October 2022
Hulot JF, Hiller N (2021) Exploring the benefits of biocontrol for sustainable agriculture – A literature review on biocontrol in light of the European Green Deal. Institute for European Environmental Policy. https://ibma-global.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/IEEP-Exploring-the-benefits-of-biocontrol-for-sustainable-agriculture-2021.pdf. Accessed 15 October 2022
Laird S, Wynberg R (2018) Fact-finding and scoping study on digital sequence information on genetic resources in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol. Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. https://www.cbd.int/doc/c/e95a/4ddd/4baea2ec772be28edcd10358/dsi-ahteg-2018-01-03-en.pdf. Accessed 20 October 2022
Lawson C, Rourke M (2020) Digital sequence information as a marine genetic resource under the proposed UNCLOS legally binding instrument. Mar Policy 122:103878
Lawson C, Humphries F, Rourke M (2019) The future of information under the CBD, Nagoya Protocol, Plant Treaty and PIP Framework. J World Intellect Prop 22:103–119
Lewis-Lettington RJ, Ruiz Muller M, Young TR, Nnadozie KA, Halewood M, Cabrera Medaglia J (2006) Methodology for developing policies and laws for access to genetic resources and benefit sharing. International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome
Liebig K, Alker D, Chih K, Horn D, Wolf J (2002) Governing biodiversity: access to genetic resources and approaches to obtaining benefits from their use: the case of the Philippines. Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik. https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/27895/2002-05.pdf. Accessed 23 October 2022
Mason PG, Cock MJW, Barratt BIP, Klapwijk JN, van Lenteren JC, Brodeur J, Hoelmer KA, Heimpel GE (2018) Best practices for the use and exchange of invertebrate biological control genetic resources relevant for food and agriculture. BioControl 63:149–154
Mason PG, Barratt BIP, Mc Kay F, Klapwijk JN, Silvestri L, Hill M, Hinz HL, Sheppard A, Brodeur J, Diniz Vitorino M (2023a) Impact of access and benefit-sharing implementation on biological control genetic resources. BioControl, In press
Mason PG, Hill M, Smith D, Silvestri L, Weyl P, Brodeur J, Diniz Vitorino M (2023b) Best practices in the use and exchange of microorganism biological control genetic resources. BioControl, In press
Matsui K (2015) Problems of defining and validating traditional knowledge: a historical approach. Int Indig Policy J 6(2):1–25
Mc Kay F, Sosa A, Cabrera Walsh G (2023) Accessing biological control genetic resources: the South American experience. BioControl, In press
McConnachie A, McKay F (2015) Host range and impact of the stem- and leaf-deforming thrips, Liothrips tractabilis: a biological control agent for Campuloclinium macrocephalum, in South Africa. Biocontrol 60:703–713
Moffat CE, Smith MA (2014) Pre-release detection of a biocontrol agent: combining independent and public DNA sequences to identify the first North American record of Aulacidea pilosellae (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae). Can Entomol 174:390–394
Neumann D, Borisenko AV, Coddington JA, Häuser LC, Butler RC, Casino A, Vogel JC, Haszprunar G, Giere P (2018) Global biodiversity research tied up by juridical interpretations of access and benefit-sharing. Org Divers Evol 18:1–12
Pauchard N (2017) Access and benefit sharing under the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Protocol: what can some numbers tell us about the effectiveness of the regulatory regime? Resources 6(1):11
Prathapan D, Pethiyagoda R, Bawa K, Raven P, Priyadarsanan D, 172 co-authors (2018) When the cure kills: CBD limits biodiversity research. Science 360:1405–1406
Richerzhagen C, Holm-Mueller K (2005) The effectiveness of access and benefit sharing in Costa Rica: implications for national and international regimes. Ecol Econ 53:445–460
Robinson D (2010) Confronting biopiracy: challenges cases and international debate. Earthscan, London
Robinson D (2015) Biodiversity, access and benefit-sharing: global case studies. Routledge, London
Rojas Blanco DL (2013) Vicisitudes del Protocolo de Nagoya en Colombia. Revista Gestión y Ambiente 16:17–23
Ruiz Muller M (2015) Genetic resources as natural information—implications for the Convention on Biological Diversity and Nagoya Protocol. Earthscan, Oxon and New York
Schei P, Tvedt M (2010) “Genetic resources” in the CBD: the wording, the past, the present and the future. FNI Report No. 4. https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/114249/FNI-R0410.pdf. Accessed 11 October 2022
Schooler S, Julien M, Walsh GC (2006) Predicting the response of Cabomba caroliniana populations to biological control agent damage. Aust J Entomol 45:327–330
Scott D, Berry D (2017) Genetic resources in the age of the Nagoya Protocol and gene/genome synthesis. Workshop Report. https://www.cbd.int/abs/DSI-views/EdinburghUni-DSI.pdf. Accessed 22 October 2022
Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2017) Notification No. 2017–37 on digital sequence information on genetic resources. https://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2017/ntf-2017-037-abs-en.pdf. Accessed 15 October 2022
Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2019) Notification No. 2019–12 on digital sequence information on genetic resources: submission of views and information and call for expression of interest to undertake studies. https://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2019/ntf-2019-012-abs-en.pdf. Accessed 12 October 2022
Sheppard AW, Paynter Q, Mason P, Murphy S, Stoett P, Cowan P, Brodeur J, Warner K, Villegas C, Shaw R, Hinz H, Hill, M and Genovesi P (2019) IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group. The application of biological control for the management of established invasive alien species causing environmental impacts. CBD Technical Series No. 91. https://www.cbd.int/doc/publications/cbd-ts-91-en.pdf. Accessed 18 October 2022
Silvestri L (2016a) Acceso a recursos genéticos y distribución de beneficios en Colombia: desafíos del régimen normativo. Revista Investigación y Desarrollo 24:1–25
Silvestri L (2016b) Conservación de la diversidad genética en el Perú: desafíos en la implementación del régimen de acceso a recursos genéticos y distribución de beneficios. Rev Peru Biol 23:73–79
Silvestri L (2017) ¿Qué considerar y por qué a la hora de desarrollar regímenes de acceso y distribución de beneficios? AUGMDOMUS 9:1–16
Silvestri L, Lago Candeira A (2014) Códigos de conducta y buenas prácticas sobre acceso a recursos genéticos en América Latina y el Caribe. In: Rios M, Mora A (eds) Acceso a recursos genéticos en América Latina y el Caribe: herramientas de apoyo para la implementación. UICN, Quito, pp 25–34
Silvestri L, Sosa A, Mc Kay F, Diniz Vitorino M, Hill M, Zachariades C, Hight S, Weyl P, Smith D, Djeddour D, Mason PG (2019) Implementation of access and benefit-sharing measures has consequences for classical biological control of weeds. BioControl 65:125–141
Smith D, Hinz H, Mulema J, Wey P, Ryan MJ (2018) Biological control and the Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit sharing—a case of effective due diligence. Biocontrol Sci Technol 28:914–926
Stoll PT (2009) Access to GRs and benefit sharing — underlying concepts and the idea of justice. In: Kamau E, Winter G (eds) Genetic resources, traditional knowledge and the law: solutions for access and benefit sharing, 1st edn. Earthscan, London and Sterling, pp 1–16
Ten Kate K, Wells A (2001) Preparing a national strategy on access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing: a pilot study. https://www.cbd.int/doc/nbsap/finance/tenKateWells-UNDP-bpsp-NatlStrat_ABS_Manual_RBGKa.pdf. Accessed 3 October 2022
Thomas S, Pollard K, Seier M (2018) Could fungi stop buddleia in its tracks? In: Hinz H, Bon M-C, Bourdôt G, Cristofaro M, Desurmont G, Kurose D, Müller-Schärer H, Rafter M, Schaffner U, Seier M, Sforza R, Smith L, Stutz S, Thomas S, Weyl P, Winston R (eds) Proceedings of the XV International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds, p. 101
Tvedt MW, Eijsink V, Steen IH, Strand R, Rosendal GK (2016) The missing link in ABS—The relationship between resource and product. Environ Policy Law 46:227–237
United Nations (1992) Convention on biological diversity. https://www.cbd.int/doc/legal/cbd-en.pdf. Accessed 10 October 2022
United Nations (2010) Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity. https://www.cbd.int/abs/doc/protocol/nagoya-protocol-en.pdf. Accessed 10 October 2022
Van Driesche RG, Carruthers RI, Center T, Hoddle MS, Hough-Goldstein J, Morin L, Smith L, Wagner DI, Blossey B, Brancatini V, Casagrande R, Causton CE, Coetzee JA, Cuda J, Ding J, Fowler SV, Frank JH, Fuester J, Goolsby J, Grodowitz M, Heard TA, Hill MP, Hoffmann JH, Huber J, Julien M, Kairo MTK, Kenis M, Mason P, Medal J, Messing R, Miller R, Moore A, Neuenschwander P, Newman R, Norambuena H, Palmer WA, Pemberton R, Perez Panduro A, Pratt PD, Rayamajhi M, Salom S, Sands D, Schooler S, Schwarzländer M, Shaw SA, R, Tipping PW, van Klinken RD, (2010) Classical biological control for the protection of natural ecosystems. Biol Control 54:S2–S33
Welch E, Bagley MA, Kuiken T, Louafi S (2017) Potential implications of new synthetic biology and genomic research trajectories on the International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Scoping Report. FAO https://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/faoweb/plant-treaty/GB7/gb7_90.pdf. Accessed 14 October 2022
Wright E (2020) Protecting traditional knowledge—Lessons from global case studies. Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham
Acknowledgements
No acknowledgements
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
LCS conceived the manuscript outline and prepared the initial draft. PGM reviewed and provided revisions to the manuscript. Both authors read and approved the manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflicts of interest
The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest associated with this publication.
Research involving human participants and/or animals
The authors declare that the research did not involve the participation of any human participants and/or animals.
Informed consent
The authors declare that there is no need to provide prior informed consent in relation to any of the aspects involved in this publication.
Additional information
Handling Editor: Barbara Barratt.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Silvestri, L.C., Mason, P.G. Improved access to biological control genetic resources: navigating through the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol. BioControl 68, 299–310 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-023-10183-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-023-10183-9