Public good and benefit sharing in transformative agriculture

Interest in benefit sharing has risen sharply worldwide in recent years, including via the Nagoya protocol, and is raising issues about how technologies are developed, who contributes, and who benefits. This topic includes considerations of how the public benefits from scientific developments particularly when considerable investment has been made from public funds, and fits broadly within the field of responsible research innovation. This project will permit a student with background and expertise in law and biotechnology, philosophy of science, science and technology studies, or related fields to explore these pressing issues in the context of case studies developed within the Training Centre.

The successful student will help to co-construct the specific thesis topic together with supervisors and industry mentors, but key questions are likely to include:

• What are the enablers and inhibitors to benefit sharing in transformative crop technologies in Australia?
• What are the industry and public expectations and values with regard to transformative crop technologies, and how can tensions or conflicts be resolved between them?
• What does responsible research innovation require in relation to benefit sharing and pursuit of the public good, in light of increasing pressures to commercialise in science?