What we Stand For
Design
Abyss = Ethical, sustainable and reciprocal by design
Abyss’ purpose, its business plan and service packages are examples of transformative innovation. We therefore are designed as an impact company. We believe that the business-as-usual when utilising genetic resources is no longer an option. Not only for its ethical, ecological and social impacts, but also because users are bound to either receive hefty sanctions from authorities or risk being banned ban from engaging in R&D-based relationships with provider countries. Abyss, by its design, works to ensure no harm while helping users to comply with legal obligations as well as the ethical necessities of engaging with provider countries.
Our design is sustainable, since it contributes to ABS compliance by providing users continuous information loops and tailor-made compliance mechanisms. Nonetheless, our mission does stop at sustaining innovation. The purpose of Abyss, which is regenerating trust between the Global North and the Global South, requires transformative solutions which will inevitably disrupt business-as-usual practices. We are living in extraordinary times and change is already happening around us at an ever-accelerating speed. We suffer from the grave consequences of biodiversity loss and climate change, and the lack of sufficient, trust-based co-operation between the Global North and the Global South does not help. ABS is an international legal framework aiming to generate benefits for biodiversity conservation as well as fairness and equity within the North-South dynamic. Abyss aims to help ABS achieve its objective by enabling the generation of the missing link: trust.
What we Stand For
Sustainable Development Goals
Abyss’ business idea lies in the core of the succession of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Goal 15 Target 6, since Abyss enables equitable collaborations between the users and providers of genetic resources and thereby promotes fair and equitable sharing of benefits:
Goal 15: Life On Land
Target 6: Promote access to genetic resources and fair sharing of the benefits
‘’Promote fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and promote appropriate access to such resources, as internationally agreed.’’
Abyss furthermore contributes to Goal 10 Target 10a as well as Goal 17 Target 6 since Abyss’ business idea stems from the realisation that the fair and equitable sharing of benefits deriving from the use of genetic resources requires in-depth understanding of the needs and priorities of developing countries so that the users and providers can enter into meaningful partnerships that are environmentally, socially and financially sustainable.
Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
Target 10a: Special and differential treatment for developing countries.
“Implement the principle of special and differential treatment for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, in accordance with World Trade Organization agreements.”
Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals
Target 6: Knowledge sharing and cooperation for access to science, technology and innovation
“Enhance North-South, South-South and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation and enhance knowledge sharing on mutually agreed terms, including through improved coordination among existing mechanisms, in particular at the United Nations level, and through a global technology facilitation mechanism.”