Biological control genetic resources and access and benefit-sharing

Effective agents have been freely shared among countries for the last century.

Current practice for using biological control genetic resources:

Importation/classical biological control (public good)

• Introduction of natural enemies from area of origin to areas invaded by non-native problem species (establishing natural enemy)
• Establish self-sustaining natural enemy population (long term)
• Investment by user country (exploration, risk assessment, mass rearing), good agent is freely shared with others with the same invasive species problem

Augmentative biological control (industry)

• Mass release of living natural enemies in confined environments invaded by non-native and native problem species
• Temporary presence in the environment (short term)
• Investment by private companies (sold as commercial products), once a biocontrol agent has proven to be effective it can be introduced wherever the problem species occurs

Conservation biological control (public good)

• Preservation of natural enemy community by habitat modification (medium/long term)
• Investment by local community

We suggest that biological control be considered as a public good activity that benefits the global community