Articles
BENEFIT SHARING FROM FLOWERING BULB – IS IT STILL POSSIBLE?
Article number
570_1
Pages
21 – 27
Language
English
Abstract
Genetic material from Africa, but more specifically from Southern Africa, was used to develop a large number of the world’s most popular cut flowers and other ornamental plants.
The most well known bulbous plants originating from genetic material from Southern Africa are Agapanthus, Amaryllis, Begonia, Clivia, Freesia, Gladiolus, Ixia, Nerine, Ornithogalum, Sandersonia, Watsonia and Zantedeschia. Two of the ten best sellers on the Dutch flower auctions in 1999 were originally developed out of genetic material from South Africa namely Gerbera and Freesia. A total of $ 143 million was earned from the sale of these two products on the Dutch auctions.
A general statement can be made that the Netherlands earns more from South African flowers than South Africa earns from its gold.
Does a mechanism exist whereby African countries can share in the profits from indigenous genetic material? Is the concept of benefit sharing viable for ornamental bulbous plants? According to the clauses of the Convention on Bio-diversity (CBD) it is theoretically possible, but in practice it is fraught with difficulties.
The main reason why benefit sharing is not an option is that all the best bulbous genetic material has, for centuries been in the public domain.
The original custodians of the genetic material cannot claim ownership according to the international treaties.
Benefit sharing in the form of intellectual property rights is only possible if genetic material is improved to cultivar level through breeding and selection.
In most African countries the necessary expertise and research funds do not exist to develop cultivars on which plant breeder’s rights or patents can be registered.
The only realistic option for benefit sharing is to go into agreements with international organizations.
An alternative is to promote cultivation of indigenous bulbs that can be exported as cut flowers or bulbs from the country of origin.
This humble approach gives the lawful owners a small share in the financial benefit.
The most well known bulbous plants originating from genetic material from Southern Africa are Agapanthus, Amaryllis, Begonia, Clivia, Freesia, Gladiolus, Ixia, Nerine, Ornithogalum, Sandersonia, Watsonia and Zantedeschia. Two of the ten best sellers on the Dutch flower auctions in 1999 were originally developed out of genetic material from South Africa namely Gerbera and Freesia. A total of $ 143 million was earned from the sale of these two products on the Dutch auctions.
A general statement can be made that the Netherlands earns more from South African flowers than South Africa earns from its gold.
Does a mechanism exist whereby African countries can share in the profits from indigenous genetic material? Is the concept of benefit sharing viable for ornamental bulbous plants? According to the clauses of the Convention on Bio-diversity (CBD) it is theoretically possible, but in practice it is fraught with difficulties.
The main reason why benefit sharing is not an option is that all the best bulbous genetic material has, for centuries been in the public domain.
The original custodians of the genetic material cannot claim ownership according to the international treaties.
Benefit sharing in the form of intellectual property rights is only possible if genetic material is improved to cultivar level through breeding and selection.
In most African countries the necessary expertise and research funds do not exist to develop cultivars on which plant breeder’s rights or patents can be registered.
The only realistic option for benefit sharing is to go into agreements with international organizations.
An alternative is to promote cultivation of indigenous bulbs that can be exported as cut flowers or bulbs from the country of origin.
This humble approach gives the lawful owners a small share in the financial benefit.
Publication
Authors
J.H. Coetzee
Keywords
benefit sharing, genetic resources, indigenous bulbous plants, Southern Africa
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