Research and technological development on the Cerrado flora: what does Brazil’s National System for the Management of Genetic Heritage and Associated Traditional Knowledge (SisGen) reveal?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35977/0104-1096.cct2026.v43.27984Keywords:
Brazilian biodiversity, Cerrado, traditional knowledge, Law No. 13,123/2015, native plantsAbstract
There is growing international scientific and technological interest in conducting research and development based on the biodiversity assets of the Cerrado biome, in Brazil. In this regard, this study aims to present an overview of research and technological development
based on the flora and associated traditional knowledge
(ATK), regarding traditional knowledge associated with the
biodiversity of the Cerrado. Public data from the publicity
module of Brazil’s National System for the Management of
Genetic Heritage and Associated Traditional Knowledge
(SisGen) were analyzed, referring to accesses, shipments,
and notifications of products with samples from the
Cerrado between November 2017 and November 2023.
Most of the recorded accessions indicating the origin of
samples from the Cerrado are related only to genetic
resources (GR), while accessions to GR and ATK represent a significantly smaller portion. A total of 482 records of shipments of floristic samples from the Cerrado were
identified during this period, which were mainly destined
for the United States, France, and the United Kingdom.
In the same period, in relation to notifications of finished
products, only 190 plant samples used in the formulation of the product originate from the Cerrado biome out of 15,048 verified notification records. Of this number (190), more than half involve non-monetary benefit sharing, 32.6% involve monetary benefit sharing, and 15.8% correspond to products exempt from benefit sharing. In light of this, it can be stated that developed countries lead studies related to the Cerrado flora, in contrast to the lack of recorded information regarding holders of traditional knowledge. On the other hand, there are still gaps in understanding the effectiveness of such scientific and technological advances in conserving the remnants of the biome.
