MOSAICS
Micro-organisms Sustainable use and Access regulation
Integrated Conveyance System
Philippe Desmeth
Belgian Science Policy
Belgian Coordinated Collections of Micro-organisms
Belgian Biodiversity Platform

MOSAi C S

© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

Addressing the ABS challenge
Tokyo 8-9 February 2007

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MOSAICS is a sector-based approach of ABS
Biological Resource Centres
World Federation for Culture Collections

 Life sciences
 Upstream and downstream biodiversity research Ex situ conservation of (micro) biological resources Sustainable biotechnology
 Knowledge based bio-economy© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

Addressing the ABS challenge
Tokyo 8-9 February 20072

Issues of an International Regime
in BRC perspective
 Nature of biodiversity benefits and their value Nature, Scope, and elements of an Int’l Regime
 Effectiveness of existing measures and engineering of
new ones when necessary
 “W” questions on implementation: what, who, when, how?
 Impact of IPR on ABS and vice versa
Divergences between UNEP and other UN bodies
Oversimplification of “providers” versus “users” scheme© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

Addressing the ABS challenge
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Biological Resource Centresare looking for a• simple• inexpensive• efficient, fast• multipurpose, multi-users

conveyance system(in terms of transfer of material and property)>> to preserve & to make available (micro)biological material>> to manage & to exploit information© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

Addressing the ABS challenge
Tokyo 8-9 February 2007

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MOSAICS work on ABS solutions

1. Bio-resources transfer >> Integrated Conveyance System•
••
•

ICS

Tracking or traceability
Source or origin of the biological item
Electronic thread or paperwork path
Built in conveyance system making ex ante and ex post checks possible

2. Legal framework >> Access & Distribution Management

ADaM

• MTA
• Bundle of rights

3. Economic aspect >> Economic Valuation

EVA• Methods of calculation• Transaction costs© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

Addressing the ABS challenge
Tokyo 8-9 February 2007

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I

ntegratedConveyance

SystemORGANISING THE SYSTEM

Virginie Storms - Belgian Coordinated Collections of Micro-organisms
Peter Dawyndt - University of Gent
Philippe Desmeth - Belgian Science Policy© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

Addressing the ABS challenge
Tokyo 8-9 February 2007

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Sustainable use of microbiological resources
requires a system with :Appropriate management of both resources and related information(conservation, authentication, documentation)

IT, data & metadata inseparable from the natural resources
they are derived from

Quality, key to sound science, R&D; both for natural resources andfor related information

Tracking system for Access and Benefit Sharing© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

Addressing the ABS challenge
Tokyo 8-9 February 20077

Purpose of MOSAICS
Improve the existing CC system to facilitate ABS

 System should also be usable or at least compatible forother kind of biological resources = look to comparable
system (IPEN, …)
 System should not “reinvent the wheel” = look to existing
solutions (DOI, LSID,…)>> Integrated Conveyance System© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

Addressing the ABS challenge
Tokyo 8-9 February 20078

Properties of an
Integrated Conveyance System (ICS)Compatible with legal framework (common law and civil law)

Easily applicable in all conditions = flexible



Fulfilling the needs of all stakeholders, multipurpose



Attractive system enforceable without constraints



Cost-effective© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

Addressing the ABS challenge
Tokyo 8-9 February 2007

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Features of an ICS Minimal set of documents (no paperwork overload)
 Minimum data set to be registered in these documents(minimum set of information necessary for science and management) Standard procedures Decentralised management with unique rules ofimplementation– Persistent identification linked to updated information– Information Technology based© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

Addressing the ABS challenge
Tokyo 8-9 February 200710

Choice of options
Feasibility imposes• Tracking rather than traceability•

Source rather than origin

Cost effectiveness requires• Electronic thread rather than paperwork path
Flexibility needs• Built in system, which allows ex ante and ex post checks© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

Addressing the ABS challenge
Tokyo 8-9 February 200711

Technical solution

Use of Global Unique Identifiers (GUID) to convey thetransfers of (micro-) biological items
Examples of Unique Identifiers from different fields:• culture collections accession numbers• IPEN numbers (international Plant Exchange network)• barcodes• patent numbers• ISBN numbers
Examples of Globally Unique Identifiers• Digital Object Identifier (DOI) http://doi.org• Life Science Identifier (LSID) http://sourceforge.net/projects/lsid…
© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

Addressing the ABS challenge
Tokyo 8-9 February 200712

Unique Identifiers
for microbiological resources
LABEL = local unique identifiers(Strain number: collection acronym followed by number)
MUCL 11510 = Penicillium camembertii, Thom
Problem: synonym acronyms (homonym strains) and synonym strains
WDCM ID acronym
66 BTCC
632 BTCC
117 CCDM
878 CCDM
770 CCF182 CCF95 CISM75 CISM805 IFM
60 IFM
742 LCC
231 LCC© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

country
instituteBulgaria Bulgarian Type Culture Collection
Indonesia Biotechnology Culture Collection Institution Pusat Penelitian dan Pengembangan Bioteknologi-LIPI
China
Culture Collection of Department of Microbiology
Czech
Culture Collection of Dairy Microorganisms Laktoflora
Cuba
Colleccion de Cuttivos Finlay
Czech
Culture Collection of Fungi
MexicoVerticillium dahliae from cotton
Thailand NifTAL Rhizobium Collection (Asia Center)
Australia IFM Quality Services Pty LtdJapan
Research Center for Pathogenic Fungi and Microbial Toxicoses, Chiba University
CanadaLabatt Culture Collection, Technology Development
PolandUniversity of Warmia and Mazury in OlsztynAddressing the ABS challenge
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Persistent unique identifiers
Combination of unique identifier (Label) and globally uniqueand persistent location where to retrieve the information
Unique Identifier (Label)+Unique persistent location=Persistent Unique Identifiers~
Globally unique Identifier (GUID)© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

Addressing the ABS challenge
Tokyo 8-9 February 200714

Persistent unique identifiers
areA name or an identifier for a resource that
• uniquely identifies that resource• is forever associated with that resource• will not change
Remark :Although persistent identifiers are technically feasible,
persistence of identifiers is a social problem
Diana Dack, Persistence is a Virtue Information Online
Conference, Sydney. January 2001

© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

Addressing the ABS challenge
Tokyo 8-9 February 200715

Persistent unique identifiers
areActionablewith a single click from the identifier to a
useful URL

Persistentlocated in a namespace where they can becorrectly identified, no matter what theircurrent location may be

Interoperable user can differentiate copies and choose themost appropriate one© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

Addressing the ABS challenge
Tokyo 8-9 February 200716

Persistent unique Identifier application
Retrieving (micro)biological items transfer history
Peter Dawyndt

S T R AINI

N F O

N E T

S T R A

INI

N F O

B EMOS
Ai C S© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

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Dawyndt P, Vancanneyt M, De Meyer H, Swings J. Knowledge Accumulation andResolution of Data Inconsistencies during the Integration of Microbial Information
Sources. IEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering, 17(8), pp. 1111‐1126, 2005.

registration authority

access procedure ex situ>>in situ

GUID:
Ford 13original isolate
W.W. Ford (13)End user
GUID:Gibson 971

T. Gibson (971)

first BRC deposit
GUID:
new isolate

GUID:
NCIMB 9373

new isolate

NCIMB 9373

Accession
form

Accession
form

GUID:
NCTC 2599

NCTC 2599

GUID:
NRRL B‐3711

NRRL B‐3711

GUID:
ATCC 14579

strain number equivalence relation
strain deposit history relation© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

Accession
form

ATCC 14579

culture entities

isolate entities

Accessionform

End userstrain number resolution (disambiguation)
BRC resolution (online catalogues)

Addressing the ABS challenge
Tokyo 8-9 February 2007

18Dawyndt P, Vancanneyt M, De Meyer H, Swings J. Knowledge Accumulation andResolution of Data Inconsistencies during the Integration of Microbial Information
Sources. IEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering, 17(8), pp. 1111‐1126, 2005.

registration authority

access procedure ex situ>>in situ

original isolate

GUID:
Ford 13

W.W. Ford (13)GUID:
Gibson 971

T. Gibson (971)

first BRC deposit
GUID:
new isolate

GUID:
NCIMB 9373

new isolate

NCIMB 9373

MTA = Material Transfer Agreement

GUID:
NCTC 2599

NCTC 2599

GUID:
NRRL B‐3711

NRRL B‐3711

GUID:
ATCC 14579

isolate entities

culture entities
strain number equivalence relation (tracking)strain deposit history relation (traceability)© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

Addressing the ABS challenge
Tokyo 8-9 February 2007

ATCC 14579= certificate
strain number resolution (disambiguation)
BRC resolution (online catalogues)

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Recommended option
system of built in persistent unique identifiers Is an electronic thread = flexible, powerful Does not intend to replace the traditional labelling, but allow
incorporating them in a larger namespace that provides anextended unicity and interoperability
 Intend to reduce transaction costs, allows ex ante andex post check = cost effective! cost effective does not mean without costs. For example, the cost to assign an
identifier to an item in the DOI system® range from ~ 0.0063 € to ~ 2.24 €;processing and operational costs not included !

© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

Addressing the ABS challenge
Tokyo 8-9 February 200720

M

aterialTransfer

Agreement

DEFINING THE RULES© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

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Setting up the rulesof bio-resources exploitation
 Setting the modalities of access, transfer and use of bioresources and connecting all links of the chain
How to put theory into practice ? / What is possible?
 Assigning the duties and rights of the stakeholders
Contracting parties instead of “stakeholders”
 Defining the information needed to manage the ABS process
What information is relevant for ABS needs
How to gather, to store and to retrieve this information© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

Addressing the ABS challenge
Tokyo 8-9 February 2007

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Functions of MTATell the parties how to operate in compliance withinternational, and national laws
• concerning access and transfer of biological material• Concerning use of biological material• concerning technical safety and transport regulation• terms of liability, responsibilityProtect the rights of customers and partners (intellectual
property rights, ownership rights) >> bundle of rights



Ensure the quality of biological resources© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

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Tokyo 8-9 February 2007

23Options
 Signed agreement versus implicit acceptance (shrink wrap orclick wrap agreements) of general conditions of transfer
 MOSAICC check list and model MTA or standard MTA(see http://www.belspo.be/bccm)
 Source / origin / legal provenance of the biological item
 Differentiation between non-profit & for-profit use© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

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The concept of “bundle of rights”
in knowledge based bio-economy
Bundle of rights is a set ofOperational rights(who can decide upon the use that one can make of a resource)

andCollective choice rights(who can decide upon the future exercise of the rights on the resource)
based on the work ofProf. Tom Dedeurwaerdere - University catholic of Louvain© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

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Bundle of rights concept
Alienation
Exclusion
Management / participation
RemovalExtraction
ContributionAccess© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

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Economic valuationof microbiological resources (MR)based on
Report of Dr Mikyung Yun

Contribution of Dr Mikihiko WatanabeContribution of Mr Masahiro Myazaki© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

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Why assessing the value of MR?

 Benefit-sharing needs reliable information about• what is the value of MR• what are the costs attached to its use• what benefits can be expected That needs reliable ways to value MR© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

Addressing the ABS challenge
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Questions

 How much are microbiological resources (MR) worth?
• Usefulness of MR (before and after characterisation)
 How to set the worth of MR?
• Can market mechanisms determine economic value of MR ?
• Which are the common methods to evaluate the value ofnatural components?
• Which of these methods can be used to ascertain the economic
value of MR?

© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

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How much are MR worth?
The value of MR can be expressed in terms of Ecological role (in the ecosystem, the environment)
via natural process discovery
 Scientific information (useful arts)
via product and process discovery
 Socio-economic / industrial application
via product and processes development
 Biological commodities
via market development

To be translated into economic value© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

Addressing the ABS challenge
Tokyo 8-9 February 200730

How to set the worth of MR in
economic terms?
 Microbiological resources have not the necessary featuresof goods to be traded properly in an existing market where
supply and demand can adjust freely.
+ There is no appropriate market

 Alternative / complementary methods are necessary for“pricing” MR

Based on “Pharmaceutical bio-prospecting: What conditions are needed for a North-South
partnership?” Stéphanie FRIEBEL, Bachelor in Commercial and Consular Sciences© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

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Remarks on Economic valuationof (micro) biological resources Necessity to develop:• Appropriate methods of evaluation of the resources,especially for MR, and to express the value in monetaryterms• A framework to compare all the benefits available, regardlessthe framework is quantitative or qualitative

 Essential reduction of the transaction costs>> to increase the ratio shared benefits / implementation costs

Based on Dr Mikihiko Watanabe contribution© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

Addressing the ABS challenge
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Reduction of transaction costs
related to of (micro)biological resources exchanges
 Transaction costs• bargaining costs : the costs of reaching an agreement> standard or model MTA and determination of remuneration level toreduce bargaining costs• search costs : locating exchange partners, locating resources> system of identification of resources to lower search costs• monitoring and enforcement costs: monitoring the behaviour ofthe parties, and the cost of sanctioning violations of agreement> tracking system to lower monitoring costs

Based on Brahy, Nicolas. (2006) “The property Regime of Biodiversity and Traditional Knowledge” (2006)
Louvain-La-Neuve: Faculty of Law, UCL© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

Addressing the ABS challenge
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Thank you
See you at http://www.belspo.be/bccm/mosaics© 2001 Cony Decock – Philippe Desmeth© 2007 Belgian Science Policy

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