Institute, Ariti Herbal Products Sign Agreement

Institute, Ariti Herbal Products Sign Agreement

Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute (EBI) and Ariti Herbal Products Privet Company signed agreement to share the benefit of Moringa /Shiferaw/ and Eucalyptus processed by the company.

As stated by the agreement, the company will pay 3.5% royalty fee annually. In addition, it shall give training to local communities to enhance skills in conservation, evaluation, development, propagation and sustainable use of the two plants and community priority to supply the raw materials of Moringa /Shiferaw/ and Eucalyptus required for the production.

Dr. Genene Tefera, Acting Director General and Microbial Biodiversity Directorate Director, said on the occasion ‘the agreement signed today to share the benefits arising out of the utilization of Moringa /Shiferaw/ and Eucalyptus can be noted as a model for other companies. Such a virtuous companies encouraged by the government. So the institute is ready to give technical support for it.’

Ato Ashenafi Ayenew, Access and Benefit Sharing Directorate Director, said that Ethiopia has access and benefit sharing (ABS) proclamation. According to this proclamation, access and utilization of genetic resources for commercial, research or other purposes, occurs on the basis of ABS agreement, which requires prior informed consent and mutually agreed terms between the institute and the users.

‘I would like to thank the company for the immediate response and willingness to sign the agreement.’ He added.

Ariti Herbal Products Representative, Tadelech Tadesse, said that the company had no information about the proclamation of ABS of Ethiopia so far. However, when we are informed by the institute, we accepted and decided to sign the agreement to contribute our fair share for the country. She also said ‘we need the technical support of the institute to maximize the revenue of the company and the country’s share as well.’