Neem Essay ⋆ Environment Essay Examples ⋆ EssayEmpire

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The neem tree , or Azadirachta indica, has been used by people for centuries because of its many beneficial properties. This evergreen, which can reach up to 66 feet (20 meters) in height, originates in the Indian Subcontinent and Myanmar but has spread to Africa and the Caribbean. In addition to providing shade and firewood and halting desertification, neem has been highly valued for its pest-resistant properties. Neem’s extremely bitter seeds and leaves can act as natural pesticides that do not kill pests but alter their behavior so that they do not feed on the tree. Even sprinkling neem extracts on certain crops can help these crops develop immunity to certain pests as they incorporate neem extracts into their system. Neem has helped protect farmers from losing crops to pests for centuries in India and is now used in various other parts of the world.

Neem also has benefited human health, especially since the seeds and leaves contain compounds with demonstrated antiseptic, antiviral, and antifungal activity. Neem also possesses anti-inflammatory, hypotensive, and antiulcer properties. It can disable fungi from producing aflatoxin, the most powerful carcinogen known. Its bark, leaves, flowers, seeds, and fruit pulp have been used to treat diseases and ailments such as malaria, leprosy, diabetes, ulcers, skin disorders, and constipation.

Neem has been used for dental hygiene because twigs of neem have antiseptic compounds in the bark that prevent tooth decay and inflammation of the gums. Oil from neem also has various purposes. It can be used for contraception because it is a spermicide. In addition, the oil has been used for heating, lighting, and crude lubricating jobs. Neem has been used in soaps, cosmetics, disinfectants, and other industrial products. The ability to have exclusive rights over neem have, however, been contested for a decade.

In 1994, W.R. Grace, a U.S.-based multinational agribusiness, fought to patent the intellectual property rights over neem oil. It was not until 2005 that they lost this patent with the aid of the Green Party of the European Union (EU) Parliament; Dr. Vandana Shiva of the India-based Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology; and the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements. They challenged the European Patent Office by protesting W.R. Grace’s claim to novelty over neem oil, which is required in order to patent an item under the Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights agreement. Those challenging the patent point out that neem oil has been part of public traditional knowledge for centuries in India. The success of the patent challenge of W.R. Grace is an example of how biopiracy, in which corporations from the North claim ownership of resources without permission or providing compensation, can be fought.

Bibliography:

Board on Science and Technology for International Development, National Research Council, Neem: A Tree for Solving Global Problems (National Academy Press, 1992), www.nap.edu;
Das, “Combating Biopiracy-The Legal Way,” India Together, www.indiatogether.org.