Devinder Sharma's two articles on biopiracy of traditional knowledge and the setting up of a digital library in India had evoked a strong response and initiated a serious debate on the controversial issue. Continuing with our series, we bring you another publicised instance of patenting of traditional knowledge -- this time from the Peruvian highlands. The Andean region is becoming known as the 'biopiracy capital' of the world. We've seen patents on ayahuasca, quinoa, yacon, the nuoa popping bean, and now maca," says Efrain Zuniga Molina of the Association of Maca Producers of Valle del Mantaro (Peru). "These patents claim novel inventions, but everyone knows they are based on the traditional knowledge and resources of indigenous peoples," adds Gladis Vila Pihue, a representative of the maca growers association in the Department of Huancavelica (Peru). The question that we need to ask is whether documenting the traditional knowledge will help in stopping the menace of patenting and thereby drawing exclusive monopoloy rights over what was traditionally known for centuries? The question we need to ask is whether we are also facilitating the process of biopiracy by providing the traditional knowledge and that too on a platter to the biopirates? The question that we need to ask is how long can we continue to take refuge for sharing this valuable information with the companies under the pretext that it allows for 'benefit sharing' with the traditional societies? Since 'benefit sharing' is not working, isn't it time to term it as a 'dead concept'? Till we find answers to these vexed questions, we have no right to take the gullible and innocent traditional communities for a ride.:
