Overview
Bioversity has contributed to the development of the CGIAR's Ethical Principles on the Conservation and Use of Genetic Resources that address: equity, trusteeship, respect, responsibility and integrity in science, and social benefits. Bioversity's own Ethical Principles further elaborate these broad CGIAR principles in ways that are consistent with the Institute's constitution. Bioversity's Ethical Principles serve to establish standards and operational principles for the Institute. They provide guidance for arriving at ethical decisions that are transparent and consistent with the mission of Bioversity and the CGIAR.
Equity
Bioversity recognizes its obligation to promote equity in the intergenerational distribution of benefits, especially through the maintenance of biological diversity for future generations.
Bioversity gives priority to the needs of the poor and disadvantaged in selecting and designing its projects and activities on the conservation, use and deployment of genetic resources.
Bioversity will strive to ensure that the benefits arising from the use of plant genetic resources are distributed equitably.
Access and empowerment
Bioversity seeks to strengthen the link between people and biodiversity and gives special attention to ensuring the continued access to plant genetic resources by diverse cultures, women and men, farmers, and local communities.
Bioversity recognizes farmers' rights and the traditional resource rights of local communities and seeks to ensure these rights are respected. Bioversity applies the principle of prior informed consent in all its dealings with national programmes and other members of the international genetic resources community as well as with farmers and local and indigenous communities.
Bioversity strives to promote fair exchange and safe movement of germplasm to meet human needs.
Bioversity seeks the active participation of its partners in all relevant stages of research and conservation. Bioversity aims to build capacity that empowers its partners in decision making and execution, thereby helping increase their ability to determine their own destiny.Bioversity's partnerships will give due recognition to the talents, knowledge, resources and skills contributed by all the actors from the public and private sectors, local, national and international agencies and civil society.
Respect, transparency and tolerance
Bioversity recognizes and respects alternative views and practices in the field of plant genetic resources and aims to facilitate mutually beneficial relationships with partners having divergent views or goals.
Bioversity recognizes the need for transparency in calculating the risks and benefits entailed in all its activities and that partners need to be fully informed of foreseeable impacts.
Social benefit or utility
Bioversity's programme priorities are determined not by a morally neutral pursuit of knowledge for its own sake, but by the particular humanitarian and equity-based concerns expressed in the Institute's mission.
Bioversity gives priority to work that promotes food security, poverty alleviation, and health of the environment.
Bioversity weighs the possible benefits resulting from its work against the possible risks that it might entail. Bioversity makes choices among technologies and strategies based, in part, on the ability of its partners to apply them.
Scientific integrity and responsibility
Bioversity strives for scientific excellence in all aspects of its work.
Bioversity recognizes that, as a result of its international status, its locations and resource base, it is in a privileged position compared to many of its partners and seeks to use that privileged position solely for the benefit of its partners and the achievement of its mission.
Bioversity gives full and prominent recognition to the work of its partners in collaborative activities and ensures that they are fully informed about, and are in agreement with, such activities. Bioversity staff members are expected to respect, in addition to Bioversity's own ethical principles and code of conduct, those of their respective professional societies or associations. Where codes of conduct relevant to plant genetic resources, such as the FAO Code of Conduct on Germplasm Collecting and Transfer, have been widely adopted internationally, Bioversity adheres to them and encourage its partners to do likewise.
Bioversity seeks to maintain open communications with partners, collaborators and the scientific community at large.
Bioversity projects developed and implemented with partners will comply with national and international legislation relevant to genetic resources and biodiversity, especially regarding legislation on access to genetic resources and the terms of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Accountability
Bioversity accepts financial contributions only when they are consistent with Bioversity's mandate and mission.
Bioversity uses its financial resources solely for achieving its mission. As a publicly-funded organization, the Organization should provide to donors and others relevant, transparent and high-standard financial and technical reports.
Bioversity is committed to making the best use of its given resources for achieving its institutional mission.
