Fig. 1: Circularizing the bioeconomy through partnerships and benefit-sharing.
From: Partnerships with Indigenous Peoples for an ethical bioeconomy
Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IP&LC) steward most of the world’s key biodiversity assets. Partnering with them allows for ethical access to nature’s genetic resources and safeguarding the ecosystems they steward. Synthetic biology and biomanufacturing leverage these resources to deliver sustainable and scalable supply chains for products derived from biodiversity. Benefits from biotechnology commercialization can be shared and returned to IP&LC through non-monetary and monetary agreements. Products may be co-developed through co-ownership of intellectual property (IP) and co-authorship agreements. Shared benefits can be allocated to environmental conservation, local development, capacity building, equitable distribution of medicines, and more. In each step of this framework, Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) is fundamental to protecting Indigenous Peoples’ rights. FPIC upholds Indigenous Peoples’ authority to approve or decline projects affecting their lands, resources, and knowledge systems. This consent must be secured to ensure ethical collaboration. FPIC is a commitment to Indigenous sovereignty, reinforcing their self-determination and control over how their biological and cultural knowledge is used.
