Published: May 26, 2021
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Cayambe Biscuits
The Ecuadorian Service for Intellectual Property (SENADI) mixed the ingredients from appellations of origin and certification marks to create a new form of intellectual property (IP) protection, namely, “Guaranteed Traditional Specialties” for artisan food produced by methods handed down through generations.
Ecuador is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. As such, it requires a law that not only recognizes conventional IP rights like patents and trademarks, but that also protects the country’s traditional knowledge. In 2016, the Knowledge, Innovation, and Creativity Code replaced the Intellectual Property Law, expanding the scope of protectable rights.
Following a muddy mountain trail somewhere in the Ecuadorian Andes, we’re slowly starting to realize we’re not going to get anywhere. It’s past seven PM, pitch-black dark, and the notorious Andean fog is so thick the visibility is almost zero; the next bigger village is a mere forty miles away, but, crawling along in second gear, it’ll take us hours. Already fatigued, soaking wet, and freezing, we push on regardless: having emerged from the dense, verdant green cloud forest with its narrow, washed-out dirt trails, we’ve come across a town we hoped we’d find a place to stay.
Credit: Eirikur Sigurdsson
In a recent article in
Sustainability, scientists from Reykjavik University (RU), the University of Gothenburg, and the Icelandic Meteorological Office describe their finding of microplastic in a remote and pristine area of Vatnajokull glacier in Iceland, Europe s largest ice cap. Microplastics may affect the melting and rheological behaviour of glaciers, thus influencing the future meltwater contribution to the oceans and rising sea levels.
This is the first time that the finding of microplastic in the Vatnajökull glacier is described. The group visualised and identified microplastic particles of various sizes and materials by optical microscopy and μ-Raman spectroscopy.
Oil exploitation is threatening the Ecuadorian rainforest – and the planet opendemocracy.net - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from opendemocracy.net Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.