About Us

What is BioTrade?

BioTrade refers to those activities of collection, production, transformation, and commercialization of goods and services derived from native biodiversity under the criteria of environmental, social and economic sustainability

The BioTrade Initiative was launched by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in 1996 to promote sustainable BioTrade in support of the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity:
• "the conservation of biological diversity;
• sustainable use of its components; and
• fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilisation of biological resources."

The Initiative has developed a unique portfolio of programmes in Asia, Africa and Latin America that enhance the capability of developing countries to produce value-added products and services derived from biodiversity, for domestic and international markets.

The sound economic and environmental sustainability of BioTrade's intervention is guaranteed by the compliance of its principles and criteria.

The BioTrade Initiative works from UNCTAD, in the Biodiversity and Climate Change section that is part of the Trade, Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Branch under the Division on International Trade in Goods and Services, and Commodities (DITC).

For more information please visit the biotrade.org website