Indigenous Biodiscovery
Explore our work on Indigenous biodiscovery and benefit sharing, along with a wide range of resources.
Indigenous Biodiscovery Wānanga 2026
TKRI and the Authentic Taonga Foods Programme at Maiangi Taiao Bioeconomy Science Institute held the first event of the Indigenous Biodiscovery Wananga Series in Hamilton in March 2026. Check out the summary report for details on the programme, kaupapa, presenters, and attendees.
Data and Knowledge Sovereignty in the Bioeconomy: Post-capitalist and Just Approaches
This webinar from rethinking-biodiversity.org, brings together insights from biodiversity conservation and agriculture to explore alternative approaches to data and knowledge governance. The aim is to share experiences and case studies from around the world that resist appropriation and inequities, and those that foster relational approaches to science within data and knowledge governance. Watch and listen here.
Benefit Sharing Compass
We've teamed up with Geo AR Games and created a game to help researchers explore how decisions around Digital Sequence Information (DSI) affect Indigenous data sovereignty and benefit sharing within New Zealand.
He Tohu Ārahi - Guidelines for Protecting Cultural Intellectual Property in Research and Innovation (2024)
K Riddle, M Hudson, N Kusabs, R Sterling
He Tohu Ārahi serves as a starting point for in-depth discussions for Indigenous people involved in research and innovation projects. It provides guidance around the conversations to have, provisions required, and protection mechanisms for mātauranga Māori within research and their various associated agreements.
He Tohu Ārahi launch video
Katie Lee Riddle introduced the new publication - He Tohu Ārahi Guidelines for Protecting Cultural Intellectual Property in Research and Innovation and the accompanying information sheets with thanks to SfTI for their support on the project.
Resource Kete
- Periodic Table of Food Initiative: PTFI: Access and benefit sharing protocols and procedures guide | Alliance Bioversity International - CIAT
- Fungi Foundation: Ethnomycology ethical guidelines
- Tracey Whare and Hikurangi Bioactives: Taonga Species and Intellectual Property
- Te Kotahi Research Institute: He Tohu Ārahi Guidelines for Protecting Cultural Intellectual Property in Research and Innovation
- Newcastle University ICIP protocol and the community guide
- Te Kotahi Research Institute: Te Nohonga Kaitiaki Guidelines for Genomic research on taonga species
- Convention on Biological Diversity: The Rutzolijirisaxik Voluntary Guidelines for the Repatriation of Traditional Knowledge
- Convention on Biological Diversity: Mo'otz Kuxtal Voluntary Guidelines
- Convention on Biological Diversity: Cali Fund for our Biodiverse Future
- The University of Sydney: Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property and Indigenous Data Sovereignty Protocol
- Alex Reep: A Human Rights Approach to Benefit-Sharing from the use of Digital Sequencing Information
- Recognizing Indigenous Interests: Labeling DSI with Provenance Metadata by ENRICH
- A human rights approach to benefit sharing from the use of DSI by Alex Reep
- Te Tūhara Ira Bioprospecting by Tiaki Taonga
- Indigenous peoples and local communities as partners in the sequencing of global eukaryotic biodiversity
- Partnerships with Indigenous Peoples for an ethical bioeconomy
- Microbiome ownership for Indigenous peoples
- Why Inclusive Provenance Metadata matters
- Willingness to Pay
- Fair Access or Mirage? A Biodiscovery Case Study at Uluru for Indigenous Benefit-Sharing
- Ecological research ‘in a good way’ means ethical and equitable relationships with Indigenous Peoples and Lands
- Te pūtahitanga: Commercialising genomic research through Indigenous enterprise
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A global biodiversity use data infrastructure acknowledging Indigenous and local knowledge
- TEGA Transforming Environmental Governance in the Anthropocene: An Action Research in the Field of ABS
- VariantBio Benefit Sharing Pledge
- Tiaki Taonga
- Cultural License to Operate in the Blue Economy
- Social and Environmental Dimensions of the Bioeconomy
- Convention on Biological Diversity: ABS Clearing-House
- Convention on Biological Diversity: Introduction to Access and Benefit Sharing
- Food and Agriculture Organisation: Measuring Non-monetary Benefit Sharing
- Queensland Government: Biodiscovery Resource Toolkit
- Local Contexts: Comic: Restorying Sovereignty with Plant Relatives
- Local Contexts: Short film on Biocultural Labels
- Local Contexts: Short film on Traditional Knowledge Labels
- Global Indigenous Data Alliance: What are the CARE Principles?
- Bioprospecting and Indigenous Knowledge Protection
- Life as Commerce: Bioprospecting in Costa Rica
- Collaboratory for Indigenous Data Governance: Indigenous Metadata Bundle Communique
Indigenous Biodiscovery: Tikanga in Technology presentation
Watch talks from: Keti Marsh-Solomon, Prof Maui Hudson, KatieLee Riddle, Natalie Kusabs, Danny Paruru, and Manu Caddie