A circular bio-economy system for fairer access and benefit-sharing

Project duration: April 2024 – April 2027 

Close up on the scales of justice. They are illuminated with a brassy shine against a dark blue background.

The challenge

Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) regulates the collection and use of biological resources and Traditional Knowledge. ABS determines how the monetary and non-monetary benefits from research using genetic materials are shared. It can also govern digital sequence information for research and development purposes.  

But the processes associated with ABS can be complex, especially when researchers are using multiple biological resources from Australia and overseas. This poses challenges for researchers, and has the potential to undermine meaningful benefit sharing.  

Our response

In this project, we are investigating what a different relationship between ABS regulation and bio-innovation might look like. One that is fit for purpose and promotes equity in science. We are employing doctrinal and empirical research methods, including case studies. These methods enable us to demonstrate proof of concept for a proposed circular bio-economy (CBE) system for more equitable and efficient benefit sharing, by: 

  1. Re-framing the ABS concept to meet its objectives, drawing from Australian and international approaches to law and policy.  
  1. Re-imagining Australia’s legal and policy decision-making framework based on CBE principles.  
  1. Developing more innovative legal mechanisms for benefit sharing that support a CBE approach to biological resource research and development. 

We anticipate the data will contribute valuable knowledge about the gaps and needs of policymakers and stakeholders for ABS decision-making tools. It will also help us assess the feasibility of a CBE framework and new legal mechanisms for benefit sharing.    

Impact

This project uniquely draws together concepts and values underlying ABS, the bio-economy and the circular economy to propose user-friendly decision-making frameworks and legal tools. We aim for these frameworks and tools to effectively deliver concrete benefits for science, biological resource and knowledge holders and nature.  

Our research holds transformative potential for Australia’s ABS regulation, as well as offering lessons for overseas jurisdictions. 

Team

Fran Humphries (Project Lead), Aditi Mankad

Relevant resources

New Risk Management Tool helps synthetic biologists navigate Access and Benefit-Sharing