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Health and Pharmaceuticals

About this sector

The pharmaceuticals industry develops, manufactures and sells a variety of products for the medical diagnosis, cure, treatment, and prevention of human and animal disease. Continuing scientific research and technological advances over the past century or so have seen such products becoming increasingly available for a wide range of diseases, allowing the eradication or control of previously life-threatening diseases and contributing to improved quality of life and increased life expectancy.

Impacts

  • Over-harvesting of wild species containing medically active compounds.
  • Habitat change and degradation from the cultivation of important species.
  • Soil, water and air pollution from manufacture processes.
  • Consumer disposal and excretion of products.

Opportunities/Risks

  • Lost opportunities: at current plant and animal extinction rates the Earth is losing one major drug every two years.
  • New product development: bioprospecting is an industry that could be worth US$500 million by 2050.
  • Consumer demand: increasing trends in alternative medicines, in particular herbal therapies, creates an opportunity for sustainable and ethical harvesting of species which can also impact reputation, and lead to brand differentiation.

Case Studies


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Biodiversity and Access to Affordable medicines

Biodiversity and Access to Affordable medicines

Recognizing the importance of medicinal plants offers a unique opportunity to link biodiversity, health and sustainable development. Biodiversity is the source of primary health care for the majority of the world’s population. The research and development of medicinal plants is thus a way to safeguard and advance health care, which is essential for much of the population. Moreover, the ethical sourcing of medicinal plants can play an important role in the conservation and sustainable use of these species and their ecosystems, as well as provide a significant avenue for local sustainable development.


Tools and Mechanisms


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Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bioresources

http://www.ansab.org/

ANSAB is a civil society organization committed to biodiversity conservation and economic development through community-based, enterprise-oriented solutions. ANSAB works across South Asia and places community empowerment and economic incentives at the heart of its approach, believing that as people benefit from natural resoruces they become more motivated to protect them - and vice-versa.
Intergovernmental Committee on Folklore, Traditional Knowledge, and Genetic Resources

Intergovernmental Committee on Folklore, Traditional Knowledge, and Genetic Resources

http://www.wipo.int/tk/en/

The World Intellectual Property Organization provides a forum for international policy debate and development of legal mechanisms and practical tools concerning the protection of traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions (folklore). This forum addresses the misappropriation and misuse of, and intellectual property aspects related to, the access to and benefit-sharing of genetic resources.
Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT)

Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT)

http://www.ethicalbiotrade.org/

The UEBT is a non-profit association promoting the "sourcing with respect" of ingredients that come from native biodiversity. Members commit to gradually ensuring that their sourcing practices promote the conservation of biodiversity, respect traditional knowledge, and assure the equitable sharing of benefits all along the supply chain. One of the UEBT's strategic priorities is to target key economic sectors such as the cosmetics, health, and beauty industries, and to a lesser extent the food industry.
PhytoTrade Africa

PhytoTrade Africa

http://www.phytotradeafrica.com/

PhytoTrade Africa is a regional trade association representing the natural products industry and supporting the research and development of new products in Southern Africa. They provide principles of fair trade and sustainability, as well as a charter that includes commitments to biodiversity conservation.

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Health and Pharmaceuticals

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