What is Bioprospecting?

• Bioprospecting, also known as biodiversity

prospecting, is the exploration of biological
material for commercially valuable genetic and
biochemical properties.
• In simple terms this means the investigation
of living things to see how they can be
commercially useful to humans.
 Concept of Bioprospecting
• Extreme environments, provide habitats for
“extremophiles”, organisms with unique characteristics
developed for survival.
• The biological processes and materials which enable
these extremophiles to survive in extreme temperatures,
pressures, salinity etc, and other unique conditions are
sources of great potential for scientific advancement and
commercial application.
• These Enzymes derived from extremophiles have been
used in detergents, food processing, cleaning, dyeing,
medical diagnosis, skin protection products, and
forensics.
• Bioprospecting of marine environments is conducted
almost exclusively in regions at extreme depths
specifically around submarine trenches, cold seeps,
seamounts and hydrothermal vents.
 Why is it needed?
• The underlying aim of bio prospecting is to find new
resources and products from nature that can be
used by humans.
• Improving human health, through both medicine and
better nutrition are key focal areas.
• It plays a dominant role in discovering leads for drug
development, since existing/known compounds for
developing drugs for human use are limited.
• A study showed that between 1983 and 2003, almost
two thirds of anti-cancer agents being investigated
as drug candidates were derived from natural
products..
• Other related sectors, such as crop plant biotechnology,
screen natural resources for useful traits, such as
disease resistance.
Where?

Although bioprospecting can happen wherever

there is biodiversity, it tends to be focused
where biodiversity is at its richest, as this
raises the chances of finding something useful.
Statistically, the chance of a successful “hit” is
one in 10,000 for synthetic compounds and
one in 30,000 or 40,000 for natural products.
Extreme environments and unique ecological
niches are also good sources for diversity, such
as Antarctica. Yet, only a tiny fraction of the
world’s biodiversity has actually been explored
and the richest areas of biodiversity tend to be
in developing countries.
As a process, it generally consists of four phases:
Phase 1: on-site collection of samples;
Phase 2: isolation, characterisation and culture of specific
compounds;
Phase 3: screening for potential uses, such as
pharmaceutical or other uses; and,
Phase 4: product development and commercialisation,
including patenting, trials, sales and marketing.
Spiny dogfish

• Squalamine isolated from the Spiny dogfish Squalus

acanthias found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans is an
antibiotic substance under development.
• Who bioprospects?
• Pharmaceutical, agribusiness (biotechnology, seed, crop
protection and horticulture), cosmetic and personal care,
fragrance, botanicals, and the food and beverage industries.
• The pharmaceutical and agri-business sectors are more
involved.
Tunicates
• Aplidine,isolated from the Mediterranean tunicate,
Aplidium albicans, has shown activity against certain
types of tumor.
 Added potential
environmental impacts of
Bioprospecting
• In situ experiments in and around the Deep Seabed can
introduce light and noise or change water temperature,
which, in-turn, can affect procreation and the survival of
organisms in these areas.
• Bioprospecting activities can also produce pollution in
the form of debris or discharge from vessels and
equipment.
• Additionally, inadvertant movement of organisms through
disrupting currents or discarding of scientific samples
can lead to biological contamination.
• Finally, there is the usual possibility of over-exploitation
in harvesting organisms in these regions and the flow on
environmental impacts.
 Key issues & challenges

• Conservation versus exploitation:

Conservation is not always the top priority of
nations, and some seek to make a quick profit from their
natural resources rather than preserving them. As a result,
the biodiversity they wish to exploit is disappearing.
• Lack of legal clarity:
There is a need for clearer, more specific rules
on how origins of samples and IK are recorded and their
benefits shared, both nationally and abroad.
The commercial benefit should be accrue to
those who discovered the active ingredient or the biotech
company able to identify/ improve on this key ingredient
• Greater sector involvement:
Many sectors actively involved in bioprospecting
remain ignorant of the regulations, and are committing
biopiracy. Education and participation in relevant
international and national discussions is needed to ensure
regulation across all sectors.
 A comprehensive bioprospecting policy
• Legislation and regulation:
Appropriate legislation and regulations are the basis for
implementation of the policy, and are needed in order to make it
enforceable. Probably the most crucial issue to be addressed is
regulation of access to biological resources, and to the
associated knowledge.
Legislation and regulations should (i) ensure that clear
conditions and procedures govern access to genetic
resources, (ii) make access subject to written agreement
based on prior informed consent and (iii) require fair and
equitable sharing of the benefits. Enforcement is needed to
ensure that the handling of genetic resources, both by nationals
and foreigners, is consistent with the national policies and
laws.
•
•Benefit sharing mechanisms: a mechanism for benefit
sharing should be developed. Benefits should be
distributed fairly and equitably among all parties
concerned, including local communities, indigenous
groups, universities, etc.
•Capacity building: building technological capacity,
including the capacity to innovate, is important in order to
increase the possibilities to add value to genetic resources,
thus generating greater social and economic benefits.
Similarly, education and training are needed to
encourage the protection of biodiversity. Institutional
development should also be included in capacity building
efforts.
• Financing: obviously, sources of funding will have to
be identified for the development and
implementation of the policy. Often, the process of
formulating a policy is as important as its contents, since
it can generate commitment and thereby facilitate
implementation.
• • Assessment or situation analysis: a sound
assessment of relevant aspects, notably the
opportunities, needs, resources and capacities of a
country to make sustainable use of its biological
and genetic resources should be the basis for
developing an appropriate policy and for devising sound
strategies on bio prospecting and access. National
capacity should also be assessed in order to make
optimal use of existing opportunities.
• •
• • Monitoring and evaluation: procedures for monitoring
and evaluation should be put in place, so that progress -
or the lack thereof- can be assessed. Moreover, this
will allow for adjustment of policy goals and strategies as
and when needed.