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SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY and ITS POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS for BIOTRADE and ACCESS and BENEFIT-SHARING ©2019, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

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SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY and ITS POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS for BIOTRADE and ACCESS and BENEFIT-SHARING ©2019, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY AND ITS POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR BIOTRADE AND ACCESS AND BENEFIT-SHARING ©2019, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. All rights reserved. The trends, figures and views expressed in this publication are those of UNCTAD and do not necessarily represent the views of its member States. The designations employed and the presentation of material on any map in this work do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. This study can be freely cited provided appropriate acknowledgment is given to UNCTAD. For further information on UNCTAD’s BioTrade Initiative please consult the following website: http://www.unctad. org/biotrade or contact us at: [email protected] This publication has not been formally edited. UNCTAD/DITC/TED/INF/2019/12 AND ITS POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR BIOTRADE AND ACCESS AND BENEFIT-SHARING iii Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................iv Abbreviations ...........................................................................................................................................v EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................. vi SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION TO BIOTRADE, SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY AND SYNTHETIZATION . 1 1. BioTrade ............................................................................................................................................ 1 2. Defining synthetic biology .................................................................................................................. 2 3. Synthetic biology approaches ............................................................................................................ 4 Genome engineering ................................................................................................................... 4 Metabolic engineering ................................................................................................................. 5 Implications for BioTrade and ABS .............................................................................................. 5 4. The difference between chemical synthesis and biosynthesis .......................................................... 6 Chemical synthesis ..................................................................................................................... 6 Biosynthesis ................................................................................................................................ 6 Implications for BioTrade and ABS .............................................................................................. 7 SECTION 2: CASE STUDIES ON NATURAL PRODUCTS, SYNTHESIZATION AND SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY ............................................................................................................ 8 1. Flavours and fragrances .................................................................................................................... 8 Vanilla ......................................................................................................................................... 8 Patchouli ................................................................................................................................... 10 Orange ...................................................................................................................................... 10 Stevia ....................................................................................................................................... 10 2. Pharma and phytopharmaceuticals ................................................................................................. 12 Artemisinin ................................................................................................................................ 12 SECTION 3: LAW AND POLICY ISSUES AT THE INTERFACE OF BIOTRADE AND SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY .......................................................................................................... 14 1. Food labelling .................................................................................................................................. 14 United States ............................................................................................................................ 14 European Union ........................................................................................................................ 14 2. Cosmetic products .......................................................................................................................... 15 United States ............................................................................................................................ 15 European Union ........................................................................................................................ 15 3. Voluntary certification ....................................................................................................................... 16 Non-GMO certification .............................................................................................................. 16 COSMOS .................................................................................................................................. 16 NATRUE.................................................................................................................................... 16 SECTION 4: CONCLUSIONS ON IMPLICATIONS OF SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY FOR BIOTRADE AND ABS ......................................................................................................... 18 1. General conclusions on possible implications of SynBio for BioTrade ............................................... 18 2. Potential implications of SynBio for ABS .......................................................................................... 20 3. Recommendations on the way forward for BioTrade ........................................................................ 20 iv SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY ANNEX I:DEFINITIONS OF SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY ......................................................... 24 ANNEX II: SELECTED SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES .......................... 25 1. BioBrick engineering ........................................................................................................................ 25 2. Bioinformatics .................................................................................................................................. 25 3. Design tools .................................................................................................................................... 26 4. Construction tools ........................................................................................................................... 27 Genome-editing technologies ................................................................................................... 27 Gene synthesis technologies ..................................................................................................... 27 Biofoundries .............................................................................................................................. 27 GLOSSARY ............................................................................................................ 28 Notes .................................................................................................................................................... 30 Figures Figure 1: SynBio ingredient production with genetically modified yeast ......................................................... 6 Figure 2: Examples of different methods of obtaining vanillin ........................................................................ 9 Figure 3: Dried leaf artemisia phytomedicine .............................................................................................. 12 Figure 4: GenoCAD online platform ............................................................................................................ 26 Figure 5: Traditional vs Twist Bioscience DNA synthesis platform ............................................................... 27 Figure 6: The architecture of a typical biofoundry ....................................................................................... 28 Tables Table 1: BioTrade sectors prioritized by countries and partners ................................................................... 2 Table 2: Examples of SynBio products that could replace naturally sourced biological resources .............. 13 Acknowledgements This study was prepared by Mr. Frederic Perron-Welch, Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) Consultant for the BioTrade Initiative of the Trade, Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Branch of UNCTAD. The study has greatly benefited from peer reviews and substantive inputs by: Ms. Lorena Jaramillo, Economic Affairs Officer, and Mr. David Vivas Eugui, Legal Officer, of the Trade, Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Branch (TED) of UNCTAD; Ms. Anne Schick (Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO); Molly Bond (Bristol University); Dr. Marco D’Alessandro
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