Fair shares or biopiracy? [Elektronische Ressource] : developing ethical criteria for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from crop genetic resources / von Julia Rojahn, geb. Denger

Fair shares or biopiracy?
Developing ethical criteria for the fair and equitable
sharing of benefits from crop genetic resources







der Fakultät für Biologie
der EBERHARD KARLS UNIVERSITÄT TÜBINGEN
zur Erlangung des Grades eines Doktors
der Naturwissenschaften






von
Julia Rojahn, geb. Denger
aus Lüdenscheid
vorgelegte
D i s s e r t a t i o n
2010













































Tag der mündlichen Prüfung: 18. März 2010
Dekan: Prof. Dr. Hanspeter Mallot
1. Berichterstatterin: Prof. Dr. Eve-Marie Engels
2. Berichtersof. Dr. Vera Hemleben
Contents 3
Contents

1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 7
1.1 DELINEATING THE SUBJECT ................................................................................................. 7
1.1.1 Genetic resources and their use ..................................................................................... 7
1.1.2 Appropriation and misappropriation of genetic resources............................................. 9
1.1.3 International regulation of access to genetic resources and benefit sharing ............... 10
1.1.4 Patent biopiracy? ......................................................................................................... 12
1.1.4.1 Enola bean.......................................................................................................... 13
1.1.4.2 High-oil maize.................................................................................................... 13
1.1.4.3 Hawaiian taro...................................................................................................... 14
1.1.4.4 Cupuaçu.............................................................................................................. 14
1.1.4.5 Brazzein 15
1.1.4.6 Brazilian peanut .................................................................................................. 16
1.2 OBJECTIVE AND STUDY QUESTIONS ................................................................................... 17
1.2.1 Defining fair and equitable?......................................................................................... 17
1.2.2 Seven central study questions ....................................................................................... 20
1.2.3 On scope and intention................................................................................................. 21
1.3 OUTLINE OF THE THESIS..................................................................................................... 24
1.4 USE OF CENTRAL TERMS .................................................................................................... 26
1.4.1 Access and benefit sharing ........................................................................................... 26
1.4.2 Biological and genetic resources.................................................................................. 26
1.4.3 Country of origin / source country / country providing genetic resources................... 27
1.4.4 Developing Country...................................................................................................... 28
1.4.5 Indigenous and local communities ............................................................................... 28
1.4.6 nous peoples ....................................................................................................... 28
1.4.7 Misappropriation.......................................................................................................... 29
1.4.8 Traditional knowledge and knowledge associated with genetic resources................... 29
2 OUTLINING THE INTERNATIONAL LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK........................ 31
2.1 APPROACH AND OBJECTIVE................................................................................................ 31
2.2 STARTING POINT: THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (CBD).......................... 33
2.3 INTERNATIONAL LEGISLATION ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS FOR GENETIC
RESOURCES........................................................................................................................ 36
2.3.1 The World Trade Organization (WTO) ........................................................................ 36
2.3.2 The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) .... 37
2.3.3 The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) ............................................... 38
2.3.3.1 The Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic
Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) ..................................... 39
2.3.3.2 Issues of applicability ......................................................................................... 40
2.3.4 The International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants............... 41
2.4 IMPLEMENTING THE BENEFIT SHARING OBJECTIVE OF THE CBD........................................ 44
2.4.1 The Bonn Guidelines .................................................................................................... 46
2.4.2 The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
(ITPGR)........................................................................................................................ 47
2.4.2.1 Text of the Treaty ............................................................................................... 48
2.4.2.2 Implementation of the Treaty.............................................................................. 51
2.4.3 The International Regime on Access and Benefit Sharing............................................ 54
2.5 EXCURSUS: NATIONAL ABS LEGISLATION ........................................................................ 57
3 DERIVING GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE IN BENEFIT SHARING FROM
TWO CONTEMPORARY CONCEPTIONS OF JUSTICE ................................................ 61
3.1 APPROACH AND OBJECTIVE................................................................................................ 61
3.2 JUSTICE AS PHILOSOPHICAL CONCEPT ................................................................................ 63
3.2.1 Dimensions of justice.................................................................................................... 63
3.2.2 Contemporary theories of justice.................................................................................. 63
3.2.2.1 Teleological vs. contractarian theories................................................................ 64
3.2.2.2 Libertarianism, utilitarianism, egalitarianism ..................................................... 64
3.2.2.3 Amartya Sen’s capability approach .................................................................... 65
4 Contents
3.2.2.4 Thomas Pogge’s matrix of principles of distributive justice ...............................66
3.3 JOHN RAWLS: JUSTICE AS FAIRNESS...................................................................................68
3.3.1 Philosophical roots and intentions of Rawls’ approach................................................68
3.3.2 The original position .....................................................................................................69
3.3.3 Two principles of justice................................................................................................70
3.3.3.1 The difference principle in detail.........................................................................73
3.3.4 Just national institutions ...............................................................................................74
3.3.5 Justice among peoples...................................................................................................75
3.3.5.1 Principles of justice for a society of peoples........................................................75
3.3.5.2 The duty of assistance..........................................................................................77
3.4 USING RAWLS’ CONCEPTS AND ETHICAL DEMANDS FOR DERIVING PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE
IN BENEFIT SHARING...........................................................................................................79
3.4.1 Focus on institutions of the basic structure...................................................................79
3.4.2 Original position with hypothetical consensus under the veil of ignorance..................79
3.4.3 Two principles of justice and their prioritization ..........................................................82
3.4.4 Primary goods as subject of interpersonal comparisons...............................................85
3.4.5 Property rights as subject to concerns of justice...........................................................86
3.4.6 Principle of just savings between generations...............................................................87
3.4.7 Second level original position for justice between peoples ..................