Ongoing Activities

Continued development of the Antarctic Biopropector  and the Arctic Bioprospector: The bioprospectors are two parts of the online information resource - the Bioprospecting Database.  They provide details of research and commercialised products arising from biological samples that were sourced from the Antarctic and Arctic regions. Details of all activities registered with the database are collected and collated by UNU-IAS staff and through collaborative research. Records are accessible through the search database facility. Each search will return all relevant information, such as: the title of the record; a short description; the country sponsoring the original collection mission; the organisation commercialising the product; taxonomy of the biologial sample; and reference information.

Academic Research Support to the Antarctic Bioprospecting Discussions: Expert programme staff  participated in and submitted  information papers to the International Experts Meeting on Biological Prospecting in the Antarctic Treaty Area held in Baarns, Netherlands Feb 2009. 

Relevant Research Reports

• Looking Beyond the International Polar Year: Emerging and Remerging Issues in International Law and Policy in the Polar Regions
• Bioprospecting in the Arctic
• Biological Prospecting in the Antarctic
• The International Regime for Bioprospecting: Existing Policies and Emerging Issues for Antarctica

Relevant News and Editorials

• Biological Prospecting in Antarctica