Amazonian biodiversity as a source of genes and molecules for functional food biocommerce opportunities

EULAFF INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP 4. – 5. December 2007

“Functional food and medicinal products developments from Amazonian Crops”

Em. Prof. Klaus Ammann, Delft University of TechnologyWith contributions of Maria Wright

genetically manipulated humans and dogs

http://www.bio.miami.edu/dana/106/biomes.jpg1.4. Ökosystem-Vielfalt: Biome der Erde

ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY: Classification of Biomes after Udvardy 1975

Nature Insight Biodiversity: Species richness in major groups of organisms

Biodiversity and WORLDMAP.

Nature Insight, Food

Global: Zentren landwirtschaftlicher Produktion

Nature Insight Biodiversity, Gaston Kevin

Distribution of Diversity

Regional environmental trends in habitat loss (UNEP, 1997)

0

400

800

1200

1600

1700 1850 1920 1950 1980 1997 2000

Land converted to arable and permanent cropland,

in a time axis from 1700 to now, in million hectares

(FAOSTAT, 2003)

Invasive

Species and

Habitat Loss

Proportion of the global number of species of birds, mammals,

fish and plants that are currently threatened with extinction4.

80% of the earth‘s population depends on traditional medicine which relies fully on the use of plants.

The importance of tropical rainforests as sources of new drugs is fully recognized

Yet, today still its a fact, that most pharmaceutica based on the discovery of new raw material such as plants are coming from the Northern Hemisphere

Dilemma: Protection and support for traditional knowlege versus exorbitant costs of drug regulation

What we need is less protection and more

reconciliation and participation

http://www.botanischergarten.ch/Patents/Abstract-KAmmann20040303.pdf

Italian judge Amedeo Santosuosso and biologist Carlo Alberto Redi

(far right) talk to judges and scientists at the University of Pavia.Biotechnology at the barScience is moving too fast for the legal system to keep up. But lawyers and scientists have a solution — a body that would help courts tackle cases involving the latest research. Nicola Nosengo investigates.NATURE|VOL 425 | 11 SEPTEMBER 2003 |www.nature.com/nature

Diversity of termBIOPROSPECTING

Definition Bioprospecting

Suche nach therapeutischen Stoffen

after a bad start with a computer center for The documentation of endemic species, sponsored by Merck:

• Contracting the services of a scientist to compile a summary of scientific studies completed on medicinal plants at the UWI, Mona

• Hosting the “International Workshop on Negotiating Bioprospecting Agreements” held June 2001 in Kingston, Jamaica.

• Facilitating training of a multidisciplinary team at the National Institute of Biodiversity (INBio) in Costa Rica.

• Hosting a ‘Bioprospecting Initiatives’ Colloquium in November 2002, to share lessons learnt from INBio.

Nach anfänglichen Missständen um 1990 nun viele neue Aktivitäten im Sinne des internationalen Artenschutz-Abkommens

Gutes Beilspiel: Costa Rica, Faire Ressourcen-Nutzung

• Chemical Prospecting(extraction,isolation and analysis of chemicals)

• Gene Prospecting(Microbial and Plant Biotechnology)

• Bionic Prospecting(Search for Designs in Nature)

Zusammenfassung Bioprospecting

Washington Post (Nov. 28, 2003)Case of Phragmipedium Kovachii

After a year-long investigation, a Tampa grand jury indicted James Michael Kovach of Goldvein on charges of smuggling and illegally possessing the Peruvian orchid now named for him: Phragmipedium kovachii.

The indictment says Kovach transported, concealed and sold one or more protected orchid specimens, specifically of the genus Phragmipedium, commonly known as tropical lady's slipper orchids.

Those species are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora CITES"

Kovach took the specimen to systematists at the Fairchild Garden in Sarasota, Fla., who expedited the research to identify and name the new species, which was widely publicized in mass media and science press. Kovach could face up to 6 years in jail and major fines if convicted of the charges.

Schlechtes Beispiel von Artenexport

Phragmipedium kovachii Internet sourcePhragmipedium kovachii

A New Standard of Collaboration A New Standard of Collaboration A New Standard of Collaboration A New Standard of Collaboration with Indigenous People, example from Africawith Indigenous People, example from Africawith Indigenous People, example from Africawith Indigenous People, example from AfricaThe International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (ICBG) is a program jointly sponsored by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID) to address the related issues of biodiversity conservation and the promotion of sustained economic development through drug discovery from natural products.

As described in the ICBG Request for Applications, these goals will be achieved through a combination of the following approaches: New Standard

1. assisting with the development of drugs while addressing the priority health needs of the United States and the participating countries;

2. developing inventories of native species and indigenous knowledge;

3. training targeted towards achieving the research goals of the program and meeting the needs of the participating countries; and

4. improving the scientific infrastructure within the host country.

New Standard

Four basic methodsFour basic methodsFour basic methodsFour basic methods are generally utilized in the selection of plants to be investigated for biological activity, these are:

1. random selection of plants followed by mass screening;

2. selection based on ethnomedical uses; 3. leads from literature searches and review of

databases; and 4. chemotaxonomic/molecular approaches. Most drug development programs based on natural

products utilize one or two of these methods to select plants for investigation

Bioprospecting

1. The distribution of the benefits will ensure that economic benefits are channeled back to the area in which the source plant was found with provision made to compensate individuals, rural communities and local institutions. Modalities will be selected to address each individual circumstance, taking into consideration the fact that cash may not be the most appropriate benefit.

2. Revenues generated from this project will be used solely for projects that will promote conservation of biological diversity and drug development, as well as economic well being of rural communities.

Benefit distribution

Laurance, W.F., Albernaz, A.K.M., Schroth, G., Fearnside, P.M., Bergen, S., Venticinque, E.M., & Da Costa, C. (2002)

Predictors of Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. Journal of Biogeography, 29, 5-6 %R doi:10.1046/j.1365-2699.2002.00721.x, pp 737-748 http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.1365-2699.2002.00721.x AND http://www.botanischergarten.ch/Wright/Laurance-Predictors-Deforestation-2002.pdf

Gilberto Camara, Ana Paula Dutra Aguiar, Maria Isabel Escada, Silvana Amaral, Tiago Carneiro, Antonio Miguel Vieira Monteiro, Roberto Araujo, Ima Vieira, Bertha Becker, William F. ;Laurance, Philip M. Fearnside, Ana K. M. Albernaz, Heraldo L. Vasconcelos, and Leandro V. Ferreira

Amazonian Deforestation Models

Science 18 February 2005:Vol. 307. no. 5712, pp. 1043 - 1044DOI: 10.1126/science.307.5712.1043c

Example of new frontier (São Felix/Iriri) not captured by the ‘roadsonly’ approach.

1978

www.trfic.msu.edu/.../papers/science1/index.html

www.trfic.msu.edu/.../papers/science1/index.html

1988

www.satimagingcorp.com

travel.mongabay.com/deforestation_photos.html

Project Jufari/Staro/Rio

www.staro.org

Widespread species: used against liver disorders caused by malaria

Local flora species used to treat malaria

In the Western world, in particular, tlie developing concept that 'natural'is better than 'chemical' or 'synthetic' llas led to the evolutioil of Neo-Western herbalism that is the basis of an ever expanding industry. In the US, often guised as food, or food supplements, known as nutriceuticals, these forn~ulations are readily available for those that wish to self-medicate. Within this system, in particular, are plants that lack etliizomedical verificatioll of efficacy or safety.

Unfortunately there is no universal regulatory system in place that insures that any of these plant remedies are what they say they are, do whatis claimed, or most importantly are safe. Data are presented in this context, outlining how adulteration, inappropriate formulation, or lack of understanding of plant and drug interactions have led to adverse reactions that are sometimeslife-threatening or lethal

Need for research directed to evaluating food security issues in tropical areas requires

• Understanding of ecosystems

• How to manage them in the view to producing the required food

• Must include diversification of agricultural production

• Consider the present natural resource base, e. g. tropical fruits.

• Plant protection with minimal pollution of the environment, • Soil loss by contamination and erosion

• Need for well-trained and paid tropical scientists

• Adequate facilities to carry out such work• Consider modern breeding technologies (biofortification)

Prediction 50 years before in publications was extremely positive. Continuation of acculturation, biodiversity loss, arid technology advances need for collaborative, rnultidisciplinary research and major government funding, modern molecular screening methods have been developed,speeding up the prospection, but on the negative side are habitatdegradation, biodiversity loss and a growing number of resistant pathogens.

We have every reason to continue and foster our efforts in finding new drugs to fight the new and increasing resistant pathogens in tuberculosis and malaria.We need systematic screening in a collaborative effort to reconcile traditional Knowledge with modern medicine and science.

Roster of Experts Cartagena Protocol: 487

Mailing list International Society of Biosafety Research: 592

12

PRRI: Public Research and Regulation Initiative

PRRI Working Groups

– Public Sector Research in Modern Biotechnology– Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety & CBD– EC Directives and Regulations– Aarhus Convention – Liability– Risk Assessment– GURTS (Genetic Use Restriction Technologies)– GM Trees– IPR-ABS-PGR – Communication – Public Perceptions – Field Trials – Future Issues– Outreach to non-English speaking public researchers

Collaboration with other organisations

• Memoranda of Understanding:– FARA

– BSBA

– IFPRI

• Under discussion: – EFB

– ISBR

– ABSF

– ANBio

Strategic Thoughts:

Ask Force –strategy: blog within EFB www.efb-central.org/index.php/forums/

and also in PRRI www.pubresreg.org

Pro-active information policy, not waiting for the next attack of the anti-GMO-activistsasking questions ourselves to whom WE choose

PRRI Ask Force and Myth Buser

Italian judge Amedeo Santosuosso and biologist Carlo Alberto Redi

(far right) talk to judges and scientists at the University of Pavia.Biotechnology at the barScience is moving too fast for the legal system to keep up. But lawyers and scientists have a solution — a body that would help courts tackle cases involving the latest research. Nicola Nosengo investigates.NATURE|VOL 425 | 11 SEPTEMBER 2003 |www.nature.com/nature

European Safety Attitude

European safety attitude

European GMO regulationEuropean GMO regulation

Hollywood, somehow different

Warn a brother

MisleadingForeign Aid

Misleading foreign aid

My derrière hurts !!!

What ??

Dialogue between the Biotech Industry and the NGOsDialogue

Caryocar glabrum

Euterpe oleraceae, ArecaceaePalmito, Asahi

Michael Goulding

The hydrological cycle of the Amazone

"Media Creciente" Half-flooding: Middle-Oct. to

Middle-Feb. "Creciente" Full Flooding: Middle

Feb. and/or March to May or middle of June.

"Media Vaciente" Half water season: Jun-July. "Vaciante" Low water season: Beginning of

Aug. to middle or end of-Oct

Arapaima gigas

Colossoma macropomum

Colossoma bidens

Brachyplatystoma filamentosum

Hevea spruceana, EUP"Shiringa"

Astrocaryum jauari, ARE"Huiririma"

Alchornea schomburgkiana, EUP"Palometa huayo"

Eschweilera sp., LCY"Machimango"

Macrolobium acaciifolium, FAB"Yacu pashaco"

Genipa americana, RUB"Huito"

Ficus sp., MOR"Renaco" "Matapalo"

Hevea brasiliensis, EUP"Shiringa" "Jebe debil fino"

Colossoma macropomum: „Gamitana“

Roger Beachy, Danforth Institute, St. LouisScience Vol. 299, 24. January 2003

“Company and Danforth Center shall diligently and in good faith negotiate the terms of worldwide license, making provision for preserving the availability of the Intellectual Property for meeting the needs of the developing countries.”

BerthollettiaexcelsaBrazil Nut

Zapote, Matisia cordata

Averrhoa carambolaCarambola

Inga cinnamomeaVaca paleta

Tropical Fruit Diversity

Grias neubertiiSacha mango

Anacardium Occidentale"cashu"

EugeniaStipitataaraza

Couma

macrocarpa

"leche caspi"

First Novel Food from

Bern, Switzerland

Ovaltine 1904

Obeo Rites in Jamaica, Eastern 1992,the bishop in the middle, the female priests dancing

Scybalium, Balanophoraceae, John Crow Nose

Scybalium, Balanophoraceae, John Crow Nose

Clidemia hirta, Jamaica

Trentepohlia sp. John Crow Peak, Jamaica, 2300m

Dorstenia fawcettiiJamaica Mist Forest 1992pollinated by snails

Myxomycetes, normally living as monocellular amebia-like organisms fruiting stage for some hours, Mist Forest Jamaica 1992

Tibouchina urvilleana, Melastomataceae, invasive in Mist Forest of Jamaica 1992

Unansered questions, unquestioned answers