biopiracy

American  

[bahy-oh-pahy-ruh-see] / ˌbaɪ oʊˈpaɪ rə si /

noun

1. the commercial exploitation or monopolization of biological or genetic material, as medicinal plant extracts, usually without compensating the Indigenous peoples or countries from which the material or relevant knowledge is obtained.

---

biopiracy British  

/ ˈbaɪəʊˌpaɪrəsɪ /

noun

1. the use of wild plants by international companies to develop medicines, without recompensing the countries from which they are taken

---

Other Word Forms

• biopirate noun

Etymology

Origin of biopiracy

First recorded in 1990–95; bio- ( def. ) + piracy ( def. )

Example Sentences

Brazil is one of several countries increasingly concerned about so-called "biopiracy," the use of genetic resources without permission or benefit-sharing.

From Barron's

Environmental experts have described the planned export of the trees as "biopiracy".

From BBC

Most culture collections have mechanisms to prevent biopiracy.

From Science Magazine

The goal is to prevent ‘biopiracy’ — attempts by wealthy nations or companies to commercialize biological resources without sharing the benefits with their rightful owners.

From Nature

Further, we document the characters and properties of each variety and register the landraces in the name of farmers to preclude any biopiracy patents on them.

From Scientific American