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access and benefit sharing (abs)_1

Glossary

Access and benefit-sharing (ABS) refers to the way in which genetic resources may be accessed, and how the benefits that result from their use are shared between the people or countries using the resources (users) and the people or countries that provide them (providers). In some cases, this also includes valuable traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources that comes from Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. The benefits to be shared can be monetary, such as sharing royalties when the resources are used to create a commercial product, or non-monetary, such as the development of research skills and knowledge.