Here + There Category
Working internationally to expose unethical patenting of the natural world
by Angie Bual
“You can no more own the food on your plate than you can the stars in the sky”
- Elder Duke Redbird
In 2022, Trigger embarked on a radical, cross-continental process of research and development.
Through a series of online workshops and in-person sessions in Melbourne, Australia and here in the UK, we spoke with academic researchers, artists and indigenous elders, and consulted writers, botanists and scientists. In doing so, we learnt about the stories and complex histories of botany, plant use and ownership.
Writer and curator Zena Cumpston is the author of Plants, a booklet sharing indigenous knowledge on Plants for city dwellers or gardeners. In her book, Zena talks about the way aboriginals were quizzed on native Botanics and their approach of slowly divulging information through experience:
‘Michael-shawn Fletcher specialises in palaeoecology and the long-term interaction between humans, climate and vegetation.
While the western point of view traditionally considers humankind ‘the masters of the earth’, Michael-shawn proposes that, in reality we may ‘merely be vessels for the world domination of plants’, pointing out that wheat ‘now gets ups to do its evolving for it’
During a tour of The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Herbarium, Director Tim Entwisle discussed the modern-day practices used in botanic gardens today, and the way in which plants are no longer taken from places as protocols are now followed.
The Royal Botanic Gardens is a significant cultural site for the local Kulin Nation. A tour of the garden with a First People’s guide gave insight into the rich history and thriving culture of the First Peoples of Australia through a journey of identifying significant native plants within the Gardens. We learnt about Aboriginal plant uses, customs and ongoing connection to Country.
Through this research we became interested in the unethical patenting of botanical products, to the detriment of the people who originally discovered, innovated and used them.
We’ve found that it tends to be commercial companies that lodge ownership, or ‘discovery’, of genetic material. Often, communities have known about plant uses for thousands of years before companies have issued patents, in doing so taking their traditional knowledge.
We came across stories of farmers who have been sued from large seed corporations for using seeds that they have stewarded throughout their family's lives, as the company now holds a recognised patent. We see this as the very earth being taken from underneath them.
Often, communities have known about plant uses for thousands of years before companies have issued patents, in doing so taking their traditional knowledge.
Some famous examples include Nestle's patent on Rooibos tea, and more recently a Dutch company who issued a patent on teff wheat, which has been a staple food source in Ethopia. This can affect world food security.
The most biodiverse places on the planet are countries like Vietnam, India, Indonesia - but the countries who hold the patent for the plants there are mostly in the west. This is why we wonder if this is a form of modern colonisation.
As patenting has been increasing rapidly since the 90s, 80% of plants are under patent and now we're seeing a 'race to patent'. Is patenting nature ethical? can anyone own a living thing?
These are some questions we put to Vandana Shiva, who coined the term ‘biopiracy’ and has been defending Indian traditional knowledge through her extensive work in the field.
There have been moves to protect ownership and commodification of plants by nagoya protocol, and this is what we learned more about from RMIT academics Professor Daniel Robinson and Dr Miri Raven. Daniel and Miri have worked together on The Emu case study:
The Emu is one of the key animals in Indigenous cultures and storytelling. There are currently hundreds of patents on emu products used for things including skincare and rheumatoid arthritis.
Knowledge and ownership have been taken from the indigenous communities in the form of hundreds of patents. Daniel Robinson has been overturning these, although once a patent is lodged in the US it is extremely difficult to overturn. In essence, it becomes lost to the country from which it came.
At the same time, it’s important to motivate innovative projects in order to solve the global food security and supply in a way that is climate and earth friendly.
As an arts organisation working to bring accessible arts experiences to all, we’re interested in responding to real situations and need; we’ve learned that by working on a hyper local level, we can tap into and understand larger global inequalities and help bring them to light.
Our next major project will be a concept touring immersive experience which explores these topics through the harmony and disharmony of food. Does patented food leave a bad taste in your mouth?
Angie is the artistic director and founder of Trigger, an independent arts organisation based in Bristol. She is the Creative Director of The Hatchling – the world’s first flying puppet in the form of a dragon which premiered in Plymouth UK in August 2021 and led the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022. Angie is also the Creative Director of PoliNations, a major cultural event celebrating diversity and migration through the UK’s people and plants; and WithYou, a free innovative digital service that enables families to send voice messages and music playlists to loved ones isolated in hospital or care.
Angie is a Clore Fellow (Theatre), and has produced for organisations including Fuel, National Theatre of Scotland, Edinburgh Art Festival and the Science Museum. She is also on the board for the London Area Council for Arts Council England. Angie won the Creative Producer Arts Foundation Award.
In November 2022 Angie hosted a talk about this research during the Bristol + Bath Creative R+D event, you can watch this presentation on YouTube.