Which one of the following is major concern related to biopiracy?

The correct answer is Option (1) → Rich biodiversity and traditional knowledge are being exploited without compensation

Option (1) Rich biodiversity and traditional knowledge are being exploited without compensation — Correct. Developing countries are rich in biodiversity and in the traditional knowledge of their people. Companies of rich nations use these resources without permission and without paying the people. The patent on Basmati rice in 1997 is an example.

Option (2) Government providing compensatory payments for bio-resources — Incorrect. Paying for bio-resources is the fair way to use them. Biopiracy is the absence of such payment, so this cannot be its concern.

Option (3) Ethical use of bio-resources for traditional medicine — Incorrect. Ethical use means use with permission and fair sharing. Biopiracy is unauthorised use, the opposite of this.

Option (4) Developed nations are developing bio-resources legally — Incorrect. Legal use with proper authorisation is not piracy. The concern is about use without authorisation from the countries and people concerned.

NCERT Extract:
Ethical Issues – “… Biopiracy is the term used to refer to the use of bio-resources by multinational companies and other organisations without proper authorisation from the countries and people concerned without compensatory payment. Most of the industrialised nations are rich financially but poor in biodiversity and traditional knowledge. In contrast the developing and the underdeveloped world is rich in biodiversity and traditional knowledge related to bio-resources. Traditional knowledge related to bio-resources can be exploited to develop modern applications and can also be used to save time, effort and expenditure during their commercialisation.”