Inaugurated by IN-SPACe
ISRO Registered Space Tutor
S7-SA6-0711
What is Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Protocol?
Grade Level:
Class 12
AI/ML, Physics, Biotechnology, FinTech, EVs, Space Technology, Climate Science, Blockchain, Medicine, Engineering, Law, Economics
Definition
What is it?
The Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Protocol is an international agreement that ensures fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. It means if someone uses a plant or animal's genetic material from a country for research or product development, they must get permission and share the profits or knowledge gained with that country.
Simple Example
Quick Example
Imagine a scientist from a foreign country wants to study a special medicinal plant found only in the forests of Chhattisgarh. According to ABS, they cannot just take the plant. They need to get permission from India and, if they develop a new medicine from it, a part of the profit or knowledge must be shared with India, especially with the local communities who protected that plant.
Worked Example
Step-by-Step
Let's say a pharmaceutical company discovers a new anti-cancer compound from a rare plant found in the Western Ghats of India.
1. **Permission:** The company first approaches the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) of India to get 'Prior Informed Consent' (PIC) to access the plant's genetic material.
---
2. **Agreement:** They sign a 'Mutually Agreed Terms' (MAT) agreement with the NBA, which outlines how benefits will be shared (e.g., 5% of net profits or free access to the new drug for India).
---
3. **Research & Development:** The company then uses the plant to develop a new anti-cancer drug over several years.
---
4. **Product Launch:** The drug is successfully launched and starts generating revenue.
---
5. **Benefit Sharing:** As per the MAT, the company shares 5% of its net profits from the drug with India. This money might be used for conservation efforts in the Western Ghats or for the welfare of local tribal communities who helped preserve the plant.
---
**Answer:** The company successfully accessed the genetic resource and shared the agreed-upon benefits with India, fulfilling the ABS Protocol.
Why It Matters
ABS is crucial for protecting India's rich biodiversity and ensuring our traditional knowledge is respected. It helps in careers like environmental law, biotechnology research, and even sustainable business development, ensuring fairness when natural resources are used for new innovations.
Common Mistakes
MISTAKE: Thinking ABS only applies to plants. | CORRECTION: ABS applies to all genetic resources, including plants, animals, microbes, and even fungi, if they are used for their genetic material.
MISTAKE: Believing ABS means countries cannot share genetic resources. | CORRECTION: ABS encourages sharing but ensures it's done fairly, with permission, and with benefits returned to the source country and its communities.
MISTAKE: Confusing ABS with general environmental protection laws. | CORRECTION: While related, ABS specifically focuses on the *access* to genetic resources and the *sharing of benefits* derived from their use, rather than broader pollution or habitat protection.
Practice Questions
Try It Yourself
QUESTION: A company from Japan wants to study a specific bacteria found in the hot springs of Ladakh for its unique enzymes. Does ABS apply here? | ANSWER: Yes, because the bacteria is a genetic resource being accessed from India for potential commercial use.
QUESTION: If a researcher from a foreign university studies an Indian medicinal plant but publishes only academic papers and gains no direct profit, do they still need to follow ABS? | ANSWER: Yes, they still need Prior Informed Consent (PIC) to access the resource. While financial benefits might not be immediate, future benefits (like patents) might arise, and knowledge itself is a form of benefit.
QUESTION: An Indian farmer uses seeds from his own farm, passed down through generations, to grow crops. Does ABS apply to this farmer? Explain why or why not. | ANSWER: No, ABS generally does not apply to traditional uses of genetic resources by local communities within their own country. It mainly focuses on commercial or research access by external parties to genetic resources from another country or community.
MCQ
Quick Quiz
What is the main goal of the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Protocol?
To stop all research on genetic resources
To ensure fair sharing of benefits from using genetic resources
To only protect endangered species
To allow free access to all genetic resources worldwide
The Correct Answer Is:
B
The core purpose of ABS is to ensure that when genetic resources are accessed and used, the benefits (like profits or knowledge) are shared fairly and equitably with the country and communities that provided them. Options A, C, and D do not accurately represent the protocol's main objective.
Real World Connection
In the Real World
In India, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) is the main body implementing the ABS Protocol. If a foreign company wants to develop a new skincare product using ingredients from an Indian plant, they must get permission from the NBA and agree on how benefits will be shared, ensuring India's biodiversity and traditional knowledge are valued.
Key Vocabulary
Key Terms
GENETIC RESOURCES: Any material of plant, animal, microbial or other origin containing functional units of heredity | PRIOR INFORMED CONSENT (PIC): Permission given by the source country before access to genetic resources | MUTUALLY AGREED TERMS (MAT): A contract between the user and provider of genetic resources outlining benefit sharing | BIODIVERSITY: The variety of life on Earth, including genes, species, and ecosystems | TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE: Knowledge, innovations, and practices of indigenous and local communities.
What's Next
What to Learn Next
Next, you can explore the 'Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)' which is the parent treaty for the ABS Protocol. Understanding CBD will give you a broader picture of international efforts to protect nature and use resources sustainably. It's like learning about the entire cricket tournament after understanding one important rule!
