The November 2015 edition of Business 2020, a newsletter on business and biodiversity published by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), features background articles, case studies and reports on the role of the private sector in implementing the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS), aiming to help companies to better understand the Protocol's provisions and opportunities and challenges arising from its obligations.
November 2015: The November 2015 edition of Business 2020, a newsletter on business and biodiversity published by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), features background articles, case studies and reports on the role of the private sector in implementing the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS), aiming to help companies to better understand the Protocol’s provisions and opportunities and challenges arising from its obligations.
The first article provides a general overview of the Nagoya Protocol and its provisions, responsibilities for parties, and opportunities and challenges for the private sector. The following three articles focus on the state of implementation in Brazil, Japan and the European Union. The article on Brazil, written by a national industry organization, highlights the importance of private sector involvement in the development of national legislation well ahead of ratification.
An article by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and an interview with representatives of the ABS Capacity Development Initiative focus on the support that is being provided to companies, including with regard to: awareness-raising; information exchange; coordination of business input; and the provision of fora, such as the annual ABS Business Dialogue, which provide opportunities to exchange experiences, visions and concrete concepts for ABS partnerships.
Four contributions to the magazine provide insights from practical experience in realizing equitable access to genetic resources in line with the Protocol, including the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) BioTrade Initiative, the Union for Ethical Biotraders (UEBT) and Phytotrade Africa. The last article of this group shows how Biocultural Protocols can facilitate interactions between business and local communities.
Finally, in a concluding article, the publication explores the challenges indigenous communities face when negotiating with companies, and provides a list of suggestions to create a level playing field between indigenous communities and business partners. [Publication: Business 2020: Special Focus on Access and Benefit-Sharing]