Chemistry International
Vol. 22, No. 3
May 2000
News
from IUPAC
Report on ICSU/IUPAC
Southeast Asia Workshop on Molecular Basis of Biodiversity: Conservation
and Sustained Innovative Utilization
2628 November 1999
Bangkok, Thailand
Prof. Dr. Yongyuth
Yuthavong [Director, Thailand Graduate Institute of Science and
Technology (TGIST), National Science and Technology Development Agency
(NSTDA), 73/1, Rama VI Road, Rajdhevee, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; E-mail:
[email protected]], Provisional
Member of the IUPAC Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry Division (III)
Committee and Member of the Subcommittee on Bioorganic Chemistry,
has submitted the following report:
Thirty-seven participants from Southeast Asia
(China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand,
and Vietnam) and Europe were invited to this workshop, which was jointly
organized by the International Council for Science (ICSU); IUPAC;
the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO); and the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
(BIOTEC)/NSTDA.
Program
The program at the Siam City Hotel in Bangkok
consisted of the following activities:
Keynote Addresses
"Global risk/benefit
sharing in pharmaceutical innovation", A. E. Fischli, IUPAC
"Biotechnologybiodiversity,
two sides of the same coin: A Thai context", S. Bhumiratana,
Director of BIOTEC
"Role of international
networks in cooperative research and development", D. StC. Black
(Australia) Discussion
Bioresources: "To share
or not to share", led by Y. Thebtaranonth (Thailand)
Biodiversity: "Enhancing
biodiversity value for securing future human needs", led by S.
Sastrapradja (Indonesia)
Biodiversity: "International
perspectives on biodiversity, conservation, and sustained innovative
utilization", led by J. A. McNeely (Switzerland)
Bioresources: "Recommendations
for future cooperation", led by Y. Yuthavong and A. E. Fischli
Field Trip to "Five-Province-Junction" Forest, Chacheongsao
"Introduction to Khao
Ang Ru Nai Wildlife Sanctuary", T. Prayurasiddhi (Thailand)
"Study of Biodiversity in Khao Ang Ru Nai Wildlife Sanctuary
Nature Trail", led by T. Prayurasiddhi and P. Polsena, Natural
Resources Conservation Center, Royal Forest Department (RFD)
Recommendations Document
The workshop resulted in the drafting of the following
Recommendations for Global Cooperation on Sustainable Prospecting
for Molecular Systems and Information at the Molecular Level from
Natural Resources:
Introductory Remarks
Biodiversity is a complex issue requiring global
coordinated attention from various fields of the physical, biomedical,
and social sciences. One salient aspect of biodiversity is chemical
in origin. The unique and diverse molecular libraries provided by
the planetary flora and fauna have been a source of immense practical
value to mankind. As a corollary, bioresources serve as a treasure
house of as yet to be identified molecular templates whose potential
significance cannot be conceived at the present time. This treasure
must be held in trust for future generations.
Different parts of the globe have different degrees
of complexity of their biological resources. International cooperation
is, therefore, required to ensure that the benefits of global bioresources
can be equitably and fairly distributed. Not all regions are in an
ideal position today to obtain the maximum benefit from those assets.
The necessity for mutually advantageous global cooperation in the
utilization of bioresources is obvious. An essential element of such
a common effort is the equitable benefit-sharing between the partners.
This topic was the subject of several declarations [including the
Manila
Declaration (February, 1992); the Bukit Tinggi Declaration (October,
1992); the Melaka
Accord (June, 1994); and the Phuket
Declaration (November, 1997)]. It was also addressed on a broader
international level at the United Nations Conference on Environment
and Development in Rio de Janeiro in June, 1992, and it has been enshrined
in international law through the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Innovative utilization of bioresources links society,
governments, academia, and industry. They are the main stakeholders
in both the preservation and utilization of bioresources, investing
in and, at the same time, benefiting from the products and services
originating from those assets. Any activity that adds value to a biological
resource can help to support its conservation by making its sustainable
use more relevant to society, and increasing public awareness of this
relationship should be promoted. Because molecular systems or information
at the molecular level is used in the chain of value enhancement,
the chemical community is called upon to contribute to the discussion
of the various scientific, economic, and ethical issues that are associated
with this type of international cooperation. To this end, IUPAC, the
only independent global association of scientists responsible for
chemistry, can and must play a crucial role in developing suitable
recommendations [see IUPAC Recommendations on the Preservation of
Natural Biodiversity in Context of Search for Economically Valuable
Medicinal Biota, Pure and Applied Chemistry, Vol. 68, No. 12,
pp. 23252332, 1996]. This effort should be carried out in close
collaboration with the International Council for Science (ICSU). Aspects
of Global Cooperation
Three overlapping areas of international cooperation
can be distinguished:
exchange and generation
of new scientific knowledge, resulting finally in rapidly published
data accessible to everybody at no cost (academic exchange),
selection of new knowledge
generated, which by decision of the parties involved must be protected
by patents prior to eventual later publication (early steps in innovation),
and
cooperation of partners
focusing on the development of new products or services with an expected
economic output (commercial cooperation).
It is important to emphasize at the outset, that
in developing international guidelines for cooperation, an approach
that is anchored in the recognition of mutual interest and mutual
trust is absolutely essential. Personal collaboration is essential
for teaching and research, and should be facilitated. The truism that
we live in a global village is certainly valid in this context. Working
together for the benefit of society and the environment must be the
main objective of all parties. Once the basic common values are recognized,
the first step in initiating the process toward formulating any guidelines
requires the assemblage of parameters that define the authority, interest,
investments, and obligations of the interacting partners. Subsequently,
a phalanx of parameters should be identified that will constitute
the functional framework acceptable to either side. Whereas ICSU/IUPAC
have the mandate and responsibility to furnish the stakeholders with
scientific input and the proposed form of any recommendations, legislative
aspects must be addressed by appropriate governmental bodies.
Recommendations
Preamble
The parties involved
recognize the sovereign
rights of states over their own natural resources and the authority
of national governments to determine access to biological and genetic
resources, subject to national legislation;
are dedicated to the conservation of
biomolecular resources for future generations;
recognize the vital role of science
worldwide in education, research, and innovation;
recognize the contributions that
the molecular diversity of natural products from the biome have
made to the health and welfare of humankind;
affirm their commitment to cooperate
fairly and equitably with stakeholders for the benefit of human-kind
in the sustainable utilization and development of biomolecular resources;
acknowledge the interests of other
stakeholders from the country or from abroad, including indigenous
and local communities and farmers, in natural and genetic resources
and associated information;
are determined to honor the spirit
of international, regional, national, and subnational laws and policies
concerning biological and molecular diversity;
are committed to ensure fair and
equitable sharing of benefits arising from the sustainable utilization
of natural resources;
are dedicated to the fostering
of research, accumulation, and dissemination of knowledge at the
molecular level; and
are dedicated to the enhancement
of the scientific and technological expertise and resources of less-developed
countries.
The parties have agreed to the following guidelines.
Authorization
All academic exchange, cooperative
early steps in innovation, and commercial cooperation have to be conducted
under the auspices of appointed authorities.
All countries should facilitate
the rapid and efficient formulation of contracts between interacting
partners.
Academic interaction is
directed at generating fundamental scientific knowledge in the first
instance. Such basic knowledge may be translated into commercial products
and services when this process becomes economically beneficial.
There is a genuine interest
of all partners in the translation of scientific knowledge into commercially
viable products and services, and in the equitable sharing of benefits
ensuing from them.
Commercial cooperation aims
to develop marketable products and services and to guarantee an optimal
return on investment.
All cooperating partners
desire fast and simple regulations that govern activities of their
common undertaking. A slow and complex bureaucracy would negatively
influence cooperation.
Bioresource-rich countries
have an interest in enhancing their technical training and improving
their facilities, as well as in ensuring the sustainable management
of their natural resources and harnessing biodiversity for economic
development.
Partners from regions with
advanced technology are motivated by the search for novel molecular
structural templates, the underlying biomolecular chemistry, and the
development of their economic potential made available by the partnership.
All partners should appreciate
each others genuine interests and work in a spirit of mutual
understanding, common accountability, and trust.
Authorities in bioresource-rich
countries should invest in infrastructure facilitating the emergence
of small- and medium-sized R&D enterprises (SMEs), as they will
become the potential main business partners of global innovation.
Bioresource-rich countries
offer the biota within their jurisdiction for scientific investigation.
They also contribute traditional information on empirical correlations
between biocomponents and their potential use.
The partners from countries
with advanced technology provide modern technical expertise for the
isolation, identification, evaluation, and eventual generation of
molecular libraries of biocomponents judged to be of value. They are
bringing in their share of financial commitment as well, from both
private and public sources.
Bioresource-rich countries
contribute technical manpower and field labor to the project. The
technical manpower is a contributor, as well as a receiver, of enhanced
technical training.
All cooperating parties
should contribute appropriately to the financial investments supporting
the project.
The terms of any contract
constitute the basis of the formal obligations for all parties.
The partners should ensure
the free flow of scientific information between themselves and with
the scientific community. They should collaborate in the publication
of scientific results, if needed, after due protection of economic
interests of any partner, and be guided by the clauses of eventual
patent laws.
Partners will assure that
the benefits arising from the utilization of bioresources are shared
fairly and equitably.