genetic data

A benzoin farmer in a mountain forest looks toward a laboratory as tree roots turn into a DNA-shaped path. From the forest to the laboratory. AI-generated illustration for Hariara Institute; not a documentary image of real people or events.

22 September 2026

When Forests Become Data: Who Controls the Value?

admin Blog genetic data, genomics, Indigenous Peoples, Indonesia–China Research, medicinal plants, North Sumatra, TSTH2

In North Sumatra, benzoin trees cared for by Batak communities now stand near genomics laboratories and international research networks. The question is not only what science can discover, but who will control the data and its value.