Biopiracy refers to the “the appropriation of the knowledge and genetic
resources of farming and indigenous communities by individuals or institutions
that seek exclusive monopoly control (patents or intellectual property) over
these resources and knowledge” (etcgroup.org).
Furthermore, it is also the use of wild plants by worldwide businesses
and corporations to develop products like medicines, compensation to the
countries or indigenous people from where they obtained these plants. Biopiracy is such a problem because large
companies are reaping huge profits from taking, using, and exploiting the
information and biological resources of poorer countries and villages. These “plant transfers” have been happening
for hundreds of years, and some of the most prominent plants today have been
biopirated.
One historical example of biopiracy is of the plant rubber, where
Henry Wickham, and Englishman sent by Kew Gardens and the India Office, took
about 70,000 rubber tree seeds from the Amazon region and brought them to Kew
where they were then sent to plantations in their British colonies in
Malaysia. This devastated economies in
the Amazon region, where the tree rubber production was a dire part of their
capital. While it took about 20 years
for the plants to grow and become ready to cultivate, these British plantations
would completely take over the monopoly on rubber, ruining the Amazonian
economy. Wickham’s successful feat of
stealing rubber seeds was seen as heroic in the British eye, where he was even
knighted by King George V and known as the father of the rubber trade. His legacy in Brazil, however, was not as
well received. Wickham was despised by
the country, where they dubbed him as the “Executioner of Amazonas”
(joejacksonbooks.com).
Another example of biopiracy was of the Cinchona tree, which is
used as a remedy for malaria. Quinine
was the first effective treatment found for malaria. The drug, resulting from the bark and sap of
the Cinchona tree, also known as “Jesuits Bark.” Natives originally used the plant as
treatment for fevers, where it was known to control shivering. Once it was found to be a treatment for
Malaria, one of the deadliest diseases in the history of mankind, it became
extremely desired. It is also very
bitter, and became the primary ingredient in tonic water. Like rubber, the Royal Botanic garden of Kew
was responsible for the biopiracy of the plant.
Charles Ledger smuggled a myriad of seeds where Britain began their own
growth and cultivation of the tree.
After just sixty years, Britain controlled almost 95% of the world’s
quinine (amazonlink.org).
To conclude, biopiracy is extremely detrimental to third world
country’s economies and cultures. The
history of Wickham, Ledger, and Britain’s plant smuggling as a whole tells a
tale of exploitation, idealistic patriotism, determined imperialism, and immense
greed.
http://www.amazonlink.org/biopiracy/biopiracy_history.htm
http://www.etcgroup.org/issues/patents-biopiracy
Photo Links:
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http://s3.amazonaws.com/rapgenius/1378119193_rubber-tree1.jpg
https://www.prairiemoon.com/images/D/Parthenium-intregrifolium-Wild-Quinine-flower-closeup.jpg
