[Taxacom] EO Wilson Foundation

[B.J.Tindall]

Donat,
I am not sure that you can say that the biotec sector has little experince
in our field. Biotec has a lot of experience in product orientated
"biodiversity screening", ranging from the PCR enzyme of Thermus aquaticus
to enzymes from alkaliphilic enzymes in washing powder, or novel
antibiotics in the early days. In other respects I am afraid that I have to
agree with you! A side effect is that while the developing countries seek
"sovereign rights" over their biodiversity, this becomes a bit problematic
when companies sit in countries which haven't ratified the convention.
Brian

At 11:34 22.06.06 +0200, Donat Agosti wrote:
>Tonight is the launch of the EO Wilson Biodiversity Foundation at the Tavern
>on the Green in New York (http://www.eowilson.org/prerelease.htm).
>
>It is an initiative "to preserve biological diversity in the living
>environment by inventing and implementing business and educational
>strategies in the service of conservation".
>
>The set up, with many Nobel Prize laureates, and run by a biotech CEO (Jay
>Short, and, unlike Wilson's former involvement, the ALL-species, all the
>board members are not from conservation and biodiversity, but with a strong
>link into biotec.
>
>As much as this initiative ought be applauded, this makes it a foundation to
>watch, because of its potential in providing funds for biodiversity
>research. At the same time it is run by people from the biotec sector with
>little experience in our field; a sector most feared in developing countries
>for potential biopiracy, which among other is causing havoc in doing our
>field work and potentially in the current Doha Round of the World Trade
>Organization.
>
>My personal view is here
>http://biodivcontext.blogspot.com/2006/06/eo-wilson-biodiversity-foundation-
>it.html
>
>Donat 
>
>Dr. Donat Agosti
>Science Consultant
>Research Associate, American Museum of Natural History and Naturmuseum der
>Burgergemeinde Bern
>Email: agosti at amnh.org
>Web: http://antbase.org
>Skype: agostileu
>Blog: http://www.blogger.com/profile/25105275
>CV: http://antbase.org/agosticv_2003.html
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>+41-31-351 7152
> 
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>
>
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