the san hoodia project

The Hoodia Plant, containing intellectual
property belonging to the San, was acquired
and patented without their permission

For thousands of years the San peoples have been sustained in their journeys across the Kalahari Desert by the Hoodia plant, which contains a naturally occurring appetite suppressant. This appetite suppressant was patented without the San’s permission in 1995, and has subsequently become of incalculable value to the global slimming industry.

Whilst the San peoples remain one of the most impoverished and marginalised populations in Southern Africa, there has been an explosion in the commercial propagation and selling of the Hoodia, creating a billion dollar global market.

The San challenged the patent-holders, forced an acknowledgement of their intellectual property (IP) in the patent, and are now deeply involved in the struggle to protect and further develop those intellectual property rights. Revenue gained from this IP is collected and distributed it amongst the San peoples across the region by The Hoodia Trust, which was formed for this purpose.