Exploring Costa Rica Biodiversity Through Bioprospecting
What is Bioprospecting? 
Bioprospecting, as it is defined in the Biodiversity Law of Costa Rica, is the systematic search, classification and research (with commercial purposes) of new sources of chemical compounds, genes, proteins, microorganisms and other products with actual or potential economic value that are founded on biodiversity. 
The National Institute of Biodiversity (INBio) through the Bioprospecting Unit, establishes scientific research agreements with different companies and national and international academic institutions, in order to identify new products for sustainable use of the biodiversity. This collaboration generates a series of monetary and non monetary benefits that helps Costa Rica to support conservation and to develop research that promotes knowledge about the biodiversity's value, and to support the sustainable development of the country.
Description
Costa Rica is one of the 20 richest countries in biodiversity in the world and has become one of the more experienced countries in environmental protection. It is estimated that we have more than one-half million species, which represent 4% of the world's estimated total.
The National Institute of Biodiversity (INBio) is a pioneer non profit organization in the world of Bioprospecting. This concept has been analyzed by other countries as a development model since it puts together topics such as environmental conservation and improvement of the quality of life of human beings.
INBio´s experience with Bioprospecting was enhanced in 1991 through an agreement with Merck & Co, Inc. INBio and Merck combine efforts to research the natural resources of Costa Rica with the intention of developing and commercializing finished products with an impact on human health and veterinarian uses.
They implemented a model of Bioprospecting based on the following elements:
- Access (limited on time and quantity)
- Monetary compensation: 10% of the research budgets negotiated in collaboration agreements with industry (as a direct contribution to conservation) plus royalties on the sale of products developed from Costa Rican biodiversity that reached the market.
- Technology transference.
- Training
- Non destructive uses of biodiversity.
This model is the basis for access and use of genetic and biochemical biodiversity resources as defined by Costa Rican Legislation. This legislation defines the way benefits of bioprospecting are distributed among the resource providers.
This mechanism improves the protection of natural resources, stimulates investment for conservation, and promotes and strengthens Costa Rican scientific research through the acquisition of equipment and the provision for local training.
Participants Profile
This model is intended for persons involved in research, natural resources, biological and medical sciences, and the legal field who are interested on Bioprospecting or concerned with regulation, access and use of biodiversity.
Methodology
The model of Costa Rica Bioprospecting will be demonstrated at the National Institute of 
Biodiversity, located at Santo Domingo, in Heredia, Costa Rica. Specialists of the Bioprospecting Unit will give a series of talks based on their experience in negotiations and the execution of research projects that include the systematic search for sustainable uses of biodiversity. The characteristics of the Costa Rican Legislation that allowed the establishment of the Bioprospecting activity in the country will be analyzed.
Participants will take an guided tour through the Bioprospecting laboratories in order to learn the process followed by the samples once they are collected from the field. Participants will also visit a Costa Rican company where INBio has established a collaborative agreement, in which developed products are now in market.
Participants will then go on a demonstrative field trip to the area of Guápiles, in order to observe techniques of collecting materials in the field.
Themes
- - Introduction: general subjects about biodiversity and the national strategy of conservation of Costa Rica .
- - Legal framework to the access and uses to the genetic and biochemical resources.
- - INBio and its strategic action areas: achievements and challenges.
- - Bioprospecting: the INBio model.
- - Natural products from plants, fungi and marine organisms.
- - Bioprospecting on plants.
- - Medicinal plants as a source of new chemical compounds: further traditional use.
Coordinator of the course
Ana Lorena Guevara Fernández
Gerente de la Unidad de Bioprospección, INBio
Ana Lorena Guevera Fernández, Agronomy Engineer, Master in Management of International Trade. Manager of the Bioprospecting Unit, INBio. Mrs. Guevara follows the accomplishment of the mission, politics and general dispositions of INBio. She is in charge of coordinating and supervising the processes this unit develops in the systematic search of new uses for the biodiversity.
From 1999 to 2004, Mrs. Guevara was in charge of the project support program for the development of the use of biodiversity by PYMES (INBio / BID-FOMIN Program) whose objective is to promote the development of products with added value from the sustainable use of biodiversity. From 2005 to 2006, she lead the project's initial phase for the implementation of a Biocommerce program to Costa Rica. Mrs. Guevara has been member of the National Phytogenetic Resources Commission (CONAREFI), the Executive Committee of the National Research and Technological Transference Commission (CONITTA), the Advisory Board on Biodiversity (COABIO), the National Biosafety Commission of and the Administrative Committee of the Latin American Foundation of Rice and Rice National Forum. Mrs. Guevara has worked on the Agriculture Ministry and in the National Office of Seeds, of which she was the Executive Director from 1994 to 1998.
Costa Rica Rural Tours
Costa Rica Biodiversity & Bioprospecting
PO Box 2535-3000 Heredia, Costa Rica
(506) 237-3400 from USA / (506) 262-1891 fax
