Accessing biological control genetic resources: the United States perspective

Area of Science:

• Biological control
• Invasive species management
• Genetic resources regulation

Background:

• Classical biological control has been used in the USA since 1888 for invasive insect pests and weeds.
• Biological control agents are genetic resources subject to international agreements like the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Nagoya Protocol (NP).
• The Nagoya Protocol mandates equitable benefit-sharing from genetic resource utilization, known as access and benefit sharing (ABS).

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the impact of international access and benefit sharing (ABS) regulations on US biological control programs.
• To highlight the complexities and challenges arising from varying global ABS regulations.
• To emphasize the need for clear national policies and adherence to best practices in biological control.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the implications of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Nagoya Protocol (NP) on US biological control.
• Review of the challenges posed by diverse and evolving international ABS regulatory processes.
• Examination of the current lack of a unified national US policy and the reliance on institutional procedures.

Main Results:

• US biological control programs are significantly affected by international ABS regulations, despite the US not being a party to the CBD or NP.
• The processes for accessing and sharing benefits from biological control agents have become increasingly complex due to varying national regulations.
• Individual US agencies and institutions currently follow their own internal procedures in the absence of a cohesive national policy.

Conclusions:

• Navigating international ABS regulations presents significant challenges for US classical biological control efforts.
• There is a critical need for a unified US national policy on access and benefit sharing for biological control agents.
• US biological control practitioners are encouraged to adopt community-developed best practices to ensure compliance and effectiveness.