Biosurvey & Bioprospecting

Asian, Latin American, and African civilizations are some of the oldest in human history, and their traditional knowledge systems go back over two million years, to the time when Homo habilis began crafting tools and engaging with the natural world. Thousands of distinct traditional (local and indigenous) societies that possessing traditional knowledge live in countries with historic cultural traditions. These communities have been practicing their customs for a very long time, and they are always changing. Numerous international firms in developed countries have begun to “free ride on the genetic resources and traditional knowledge and technologies of the developing countries” as a result of the realization of the enormous economic potential of this information. Traditional knowledge, a living pool of knowledge that is created, maintained, and passed down from generation to generation within a community, frequently becoming part of its cultural or spiritual identity, is the forerunner of all these. Traditional knowledge covers an array of topics, such as traditional medical procedures, traditional farming methods, and information on how to utilize specific biological or chemical resources. Indigenous and local cultures have been using, passing down, and evolving Traditional Knowledge through local laws for generations. It is well known that traditional biological resource knowledge has been lost over the past few centuries, and local medical expertise may have also been significantly lost to mankind as a whole and to biopharmaceutical research in particular. Based on traditional knowledge, multiple supporting organizations and development entities have given safeguarding genetic resources or, more broadly, biodiversity considerable attention over the past 10 or more years by addressing the ABS inquiry. The outcome has been a variety of projects, some of which have been focused on producing research findings and others on the creation of ABS rules, regulations, and policy. To increase interest in novel products derived from biodiversity and to promote access and benefit sharing, mining knowledge from bioresources used by communities (traditional) or even common information can only be accomplished through bio-surveys and programs based on biopharmaceuticals. It should be given priority. This chapter provides a targeted overview of global efforts to promote fair ABS grounded in traditional knowledge for practical use. We examine several significant international studies and surveys that were conducted. Research, as well as the efficient transfer of technology and valuable knowledge, were all promoted.