News
Easter Island , rapamycin
Published on
Discovered on Easter Island, rapamycin is an antibiotic with immunosuppressive properties, widely used in cancer treatment and currently studied for diseases such as diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders.
Its origin dates back to the Medical Expedition to Easter Island (METEI) in 1964, led by Canadian researchers. However, the contributions of the Rapa Nui people were largely omitted from the official history of this scientific breakthrough.
Despite the drug’s enormous financial success — generating billions of dollars annually —, the Rapa Nui community has never received compensation. The case raises critical questions about biopiracy, research ethics, and the rights of Indigenous peoples.
See also
SBCS Members Contribute to FAO Report on the State of the World’s Soil Resources
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has released the report Status of the World’s Soil Resources 2026 (SWSR 2026), providing an overview of the state of soils across the planet. Overall,…
Read more
Knowledge of Brazilian Soils Gains National Academic Recognition
The book “Soil Health in Tropical Ecosystems: The Basis for Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change” was recognized by the 2026 Jabuti Academic Award in the Agricultural Sciences and Environmental Sciences category.…
Read more
Soil Science Gains New International Leadership
The International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) has announced Prof. Rosa M. Poch Claret, from the Spanish Society of Soil Science (SECS), as the new President-Elect of the IUSS, with her term beginning on January 1,…
Read more