The knowledge of indigenous peoples about the healing powers of nature has long been coveted by big business. A new UN agreement aims to restrict the misappropriation of this knowledge and its genetic resources. In 2005, India won a ten-year battle at the European Patent Office (EPO) against a patent on the oil of the Indian neem tree. At issue was the use of the oil as a biopesticide. The EPO had granted the patent to the US Department of Agriculture and the multinational US company WR Grace in 1995. However, Indian scientists argued that the medicinal effects of the neem tree were part of traditional Indian knowledge. The neem tree has been one of the most important medicinal plants in traditional Indian medicine, Ayurveda, for over 2000 years. Neem derivatives are also traditionally used in the manufacture of soaps and cosmetics. The case of the neem tree is considered a classic example of biopiracy by similarly affected countries and indigenous peoples. Biopiracy involves the ...
