Blue Planet Prize Story

Making an inventory of domestic species

Dr. Gamez and his colleagues started to make an inventory of major domestic species. Over three million specimens were collected and cataloged using a method developed by Dr. Hallwachs. The inventory includes not only the appearance of the species but also genetic characteristics, thanks to Mr. and Ms. Janzen. In addition, INBio provides this information via the Internet, and the website has 24,000 visits daily.

Studying sustainable use of bioresources

For the sustainable use of bioresources, INBio employed an innovative approach called bioprospecting, which was achieved with the cooperation of Prof. Janzen. It was a type of joint research on bioresources with Merck and Co., the largest pharmaceutical company in the world. INBio committed to cataloging and analyzing plants, insects, and soil samples for Merck. In return, Merck agreed to provide INBio with a remuneration of 1 million USD, equipment for analyses, and royalties on any commercial products resulting from the collaboration.

Providing information on biodiversity

INBio also provides information on biodiversity. For example, more than a quarter of Costa Rica's residents have visited INBio Park, which was developed with the goal of providing the public with opportunities to experience nature firsthand. Visitors to Costa Rica, a country with a population of 5 million, reach 2 million people every year, making tourism Costa Rica's second largest source of foreign currency after the technology industry.

5. Epilogue