CRUNCH TIME

Three decades of discourse to protect the world’s biodiversity and benefit from its use has not achieved much outside of discussion rooms. As the world meets at the 15" UN Biodiversity Conference in Canada to decide on a new framework for managing nature through 2030 and beyond, it must ensure that indigenous communities benefit from the biological resources they have guarded for generations

- An analysis by VIBHA VARSHNEY in Delhi with HUGO VELA in Mexico, ABSALOM SHIGWEDHA in Namibia, NGALA KILLIAN CHIMTOM in Cameroon and MAINA WARURU in Kenya

ROOIBOS, PRONOUNCED "royboss", makes a deep red brew with a flavour that is deliciously unique, assert drinkers of this herbal tea. The potential benefits of this mountain bush, endemic to South Africa, are equally unique. Studies show that rooibos, devoid of caffeine and low in tannins, is a healthy alternative to coffee or tea. It also comes loaded with anti-oxidants that can boost immunity, reduce risks of heart diseases, protect from viral infection and has anti-ageing properties. Little wonder, then, that multinational corporations have come up with ways to profit from the tea as well as products made using chemical derivatives of the shrub, called Aspalathus linearis in scientific lexicon. One such attempt was by Swiss company Nestlé that in 2010 claimed five patents on products prepared from rooibos such as medicines to treat inflammatory diseases and probiotic foods. But this time, the San and Khoi indigenous communities of South Africa opposed the move and Nestlé's patent applications were rejected. The South African government asked the company to share benefits arising from the use of this resource with the communities.