Developing world losing its genetic pool to developed world

Nov 10, 2016

The Nagoya Protocol is an international instrument that promotes the access and benefit sharing of genetic resources across the globe.

The developed world is unfairly benefiting from genetic biodiversity of plants, animals and soils of the developing world through research collaboration.

Presenting a paper Nagoya Protocol on access to Genetic Resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from Utilisation on Wednesday to researchers, policy makers, and conversationalist at Esella Hotel in Kira Town Council, Christine Akello, the deputy executive director at the National Environment Management Authority said students undertaking masters and doctorate degrees overseas were unknowing donating indigenous knowledge to the developed world.

She explained that such students go with indigenous knowledge that they have acquired over time through knowledge sharing with locals and relatives, which knowledge they use during their research. She urged that students normally leave this knowledge with the universities after getting their masters and doctorates.

She explained that the universities normally have partnerships with pharmaceutical companies which make improvements on these research and knowledge using advanced technologies. She urged this benefits the pharmaceuticals at the expense of the indigenous communities from whom the students learnt the knowledge.

The Nagoya Protocol is an international instrument that promotes the access and benefit sharing of genetic resources across the globe. Dr James Kalema of Makerere University called upon some regulation to hold institution in research accountable on how they were handling the genetic resources in the country.

"I have looked at how some institutions that don't care what is going on how our soils and plants are being shared," he said .Dr Peter Ndemere, the guest of honour and executive secretary, Uganda National Council for Science and Technology said Uganda was globally known because of its genetic diversity.

The country is known as the ‘Pearl of Africa' a name coined by the former British premier Winston Churchill. "Uganda is defined because of its genetic resources," he said.

Dr John Mulumba Wasswa, head of the National Plant Genetic Resources Center and Curator at the Entebbe Botanic Garden said some important species including medicinal ones needed to be nationalized so that there is a clear law for the exploitation rather than seeking community consent.

The two day conference was organized by the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology.

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