What Is Bioprospecting?

The term bioprospecting can have a range of meanings. Some explanations can have a relatively narrow perception of bioprospecting, while others can be very broad. As the name implies, bioprospecting is a form of "prospecting", but unlike prospectors looking for gold, a bioprospector is looking for something of value in biological material. In more formal terms and taking a broad view, bioprospecting is the search for and gathering of biological material that will then be examined for features of potential value.

The newly released discussion document, Bioprospecting: Harnessing Benefits for New Zealand, has the following working definition for bioprospecting:

Bioprospecting is the collection of biological material and the analysis of its material properties, or its molecular, biochemical or genetic content, for the purpose of developing a commercial product. Bioprospecting policy excludes the later steps in the chain of product development.

This definition is one of the points of discussion in the document Bioprospecting: Harnessing Benefits for New Zealand as well as forthcoming seminars and regional hui. This is because it will influence the scope of future bioprospecting policy development.

Questions and Answers

A number of questions and answers on the topic of bioprospecting in New Zealand have been compiled for viewing.

Convention on Biological Diversity

The Convention on Biological Diversity (the "CBD") was developed by the United Nations Environment Programme. It was adopted in June 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, commonly known as the Earth Summit, and came into force in December 1993.

The Convention is a wide-ranging international treaty, covering the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity. It also includes obligations related to the traditional knowledge of indigenous communities [external link], and is about to accelerate discussions with the aim of developing an international regime on "access and benefit sharing" that would provide the international context for any New Zealand bioprospecting policy. It is intended that work on this international regime will be completed before June 2010.