Don Hess's Contact Details

Don Hess's Company Details

ABS Canada

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • 11 Employees
Research

We are a team of academics, lawyers, and students working to create a dialogue among stakeholders about the best way to ensure Aboriginal-sensitive access and benefit sharing (ABS) of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge.Genetic resources hold vast commercial and scientific potential. However, the growing demand for genetic materials is often supplied from materials found on Aboriginal lands or developed with insights and practices from traditional knowledge. This is particularly true in Canada, where many commercially viable genetic resources are located on Aboriginal territories.However, Canada currently lacks a comprehensive legal and policy framework for accessing genetic resources, or sharing the commercial benefits derived from their use. The purpose of our research is to build capacity for access and benefit sharing among Aboriginal communities, corporations and various governments and regulatory agencies.