Ethiopia: Case study on Access and Benefit Sharing
Ethiopia1 (2009) provided a case study:
Box 1: Implementation of Access and Benefit sharing in Ethiopia — The case of teff and vernoni Teff
Ethiopia is the center of origin and diversity for teff (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter) that is one of the most
important food crops in the country. It accounts for about 22 per cent (more than 2 million ha) of the
total cultivated acreage among the major cereals. It is grown as a cereal crop only in Ethiopia where it is
ground into flour, fermented and then made into injera (a type of pancake and staple food of many
Ethiopians). It originated in Ethiopia between 4000 and 1000 BC. Genetic evidence points to E. pilosa as
the most likely wild ancestor (Ingram and Doyle, 2003).
It has adapted to environments ranging from drought stress to waterlogged soil conditions. Maximum
teff production occurs at altitudes of 1800 to 2100 masl, growing season rainfall of 450 to 550 mm, and
a temperature range of 10 to 27 °C.
Teff has an attractive nutrition profile, being high in dietary fiber, iron and calcium (National Research
Council, 1996) as well as being high in protein (Seyfu, 1993). It is gluten free, so it is appropriate for
people with celiac disease (cited in Chanyalew, 2007).
Demand for teff is increasing in some European countries mainly due to health reasons associated with
gluten allergy. In April 2005, a Dutch company called Health and Performance Food International (HPFI)
entered into an agreement with the Institute of Biodiversity Conservation (IBC) and the Ethiopian
Agricultural Research Organization (EARO) to develop non-traditional teff-based food and beverage
products, which are listed in the agreement. This agreement is a benefit-sharing arrangement.
Vernonia galamensis
Vernonia galamensis is a tall plant found in the natural flora of eastern Ethiopia: sometimes it is
considered as a weed. The plant is a new industrial crop originating in Ethiopia which combines all the
possible merits for the semiarid tropics and subtropics (Baye, 2000). The plant has shiny black seeds rich
in oil. When pressed, the seeds release oil that offers a source of epoxy compounds. Applications of the
oil that are being investigated include: a base for paints and pharmaceutical applications such as healing
wounds, alleviating psoriasis and as a drug delivery system in the body (Baye and Gudeta, 2002). A
preliminary survey was conducted to see the associated pests and diseases of V. galamensis subsp.
galamensis var. ethiopica and design a breeding strategy in a multidisciplinary approach which will help
to foster its improvement as a potential new industrial oilseed crop for Ethiopia (Baye and Gudeta,
2002).
1
Ethiopia (2009). 4th Country Report, Institute of Biodiversity Conservation, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, November
2009, 175 pp.
Currently, epoxies are produced entirely from petrochemicals. It is believed that vernonia oil avoids the
polluting volatile organic compounds associated with petrochemical epoxy sources, without sacrificing
technical performance. A British company, Vernique Biotech, wanted to extract oil from the seeds of the
plant to make a ‘green epoxy’. In July 2006 the company entered into an agreement with IBC to access
and develop the plant in return for a benefit sharing arrangement.
Among other arrangements, for both the teff and vernonia agreements, the companies pay a mix of
license fees, royalties and a share of profits to the Ethiopian Government over a ten year period from
the time the agreement starts being implemented. The implementation of the agreement on teff, as
judged from the first four years of performance, is below the expectation. Though there is expressed
desire from the HPFI to move forward with the agreement, the only benefit shared to date is a few
thousand Euros that had been paid upfront towards the beginning of the implementation of the
agreement. IBC has tried repeatedly to remind the company to be governed by the spirit of the
agreement, but no action has so far been taken by the company. In a letter written in September 2008
IBC took the case to the witnesses of the agreement (The Embassy of the Netherlands in Ethiopia and
the Director General of the Environmental Protection Authority of Ethiopia) to mediate on the matter.
In the case of vernonia a sizable amount of upfront payment was made but subsequent payments have
not been made, partly because the company has reported that it has not yet gone into business. Part of
the benefit to be shared is earmarked for work which is related to the development and conservation of
the two crops within Ethiopia.
Ethiopia2 (2009) reported
Sector/Specific
Objective
Access Issues
19. Objective: Policies
and laws to regulate
access to genetic
resources developed
and equitable sharing
of benefits between
resource owners and
users promoted.
2
Actions
19.1. Collect baseline
data on current
practices of access of
genetic resources
19.2. Prepare existing
legal/institutional
profile
19.3. Develop action
plan
Time
Frame
(yrs)
3-5
3-5
3-7
Performa
nce
Indicators
Indication of
institutions
(Lead
institutions in
bold)
Implementa
tion Status
Base-line
data
collected
IBC, MoARD,
EARO
Not
accomplishe
d
IBC, MoARD,
EARO
Not
accomplishe
d
IBC, MoARD,
Regions
Not
accomplishe
d
Existing
institution
al/legal
profile
compiled
Action
plan
prepared
Ethiopia (2009). 4th Country Report, Institute of Biodiversity Conservation, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, November
2009, 175 pp.
Ethiopia3 (2009) reported
Goals and targets
Relevant indicators
Progress of Ethiopia
Target 10.2. Benefits
arising from the
commercial and other
utilization of genetic
resources shared in a
fair and equitable way
with the countries
providing such
resources in line with
the Convention on
Biological Diversity and
its relevant provisions
Indicator to be developed
In April 2005 a Dutch company called Health
and Performance Food International (HPFI)
entered into benefit-sharing agreement on
Eragrostis tef with Ethiopia to develop nontraditional teff based food and beverage
products.
A British company – Vernique entered into
agreement with Ethiopia to access and
develop Vernonia galamensis in return for a
benefit sharing arrangement in 2006
Both companies failed to fully discharge
their obligations except for nominal upfront
payments
3
Ethiopia (2009). 4th Country Report, Institute of Biodiversity Conservation, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, November
2009, 175 pp.