The Minister of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism has warned researchers against the exploitation of indigenous people's traditional knowledge and genetic resources without benefiting them.

Pohamba Shifeta made the remark at the launch of the Access and Benefits Sharing System, held at the Okapuka roadblock, between Windhoek and Okahandja.

Access and benefit-sharing refer to the way in which genetic resources are accessed and how the benefits that result from their use are shared.

"The ABS office is there as a unit in the ministry, and we'll see to it that there are legal arrangements so that our communities are protected from this exploitation. It has been happening, and we want to stop it, which is why some of these acts or violations are punishable under this law."

Examples of benefits that can be derived from a functional ABS system include community empowerment and rural employment creation, poverty alleviation, food security, and agricultural diversification.

Deputy Executive Director of the Ministry of Trade and Industry Michael Humavidu encouraged local businesses to produce products from genetic resources as they are now getting international recognition.

The Ministry, in collaboration with the European Union, is working together to equip the ABS office and to help the business sector have access to common facilities.