Question

Write a short note on biopiracy.

Hint:

Think of the neem and turmeric patent disputes, where traditional Indian knowledge was patented abroad.

Answer 1

Understanding the Question:
Biopiracy is the unauthorised use of a country's biological resources and the traditional knowledge tied to them, usually by companies from another country.

Detailed Explanation:
Many developing countries, including India, are rich in biodiversity and hold generations of traditional knowledge about using local plants for medicine and agriculture.
When foreign organisations extract these bio-resources or patent products based on this traditional knowledge without paying royalties or getting consent from the local community, it is called biopiracy.
The neem and turmeric patent disputes are well known Indian examples, where patents were granted abroad for uses that Indian farmers and healers had practised for centuries, and India had to legally challenge these patents to get them revoked.

Final Answer:
Biopiracy is the exploitation of a nation's biodiversity and traditional knowledge without proper authorisation or benefit sharing, and India has fought several such patent cases to protect its bio-resources.