noun
- the systematic search for and evaluation of biological organisms and genetic material from nature for potential commercial or scientific applications, especially in medicine and agriculture
Usage: often used in the context of pharmaceutical development and biodiversity conservation; frequently associated with discussions of intellectual property rights and benefit-sharing with indigenous communities
Examples
- Pharmaceutical companies engage in bioprospecting in tropical rainforests to discover new drug compounds.
- Bioprospecting has led to the development of several cancer-fighting medications derived from plant species.
- The convention on biological diversity established guidelines for ethical bioprospecting practices.
- Indigenous communities have raised concerns about bioprospecting and the fair distribution of profits from discoveries.
- Researchers are bioprospecting in coral reefs to find organisms that might produce antibiotics.
- Bioprospecting agreements now often require that local populations benefit from any commercial success.