How big companies cash in on indigenous knowledge and biological resources

Indigenous people the world over are custodians of knowledge about their environment, often passed down over generations. In the past few decades, corporations have raced to harvest this knowledge without recognizing its sources. ‘Bio-Piracy’ as it is called, is increasingly undermining fundamental rights of indigenous people to their knowledge and resources, while global corporations reap huge profits.

‘Third Person’ is a documentary that takes viewers on a journey around the world, from the tropical rainforests of Amazon to the savannas of Southern Africa. We meet Pai-Tavytera and San people who teach us about their plants, past and present, threatened by exploitation. We explore how biopiracy is pushing indigenous people out of their lands and their sources of livelihood. We learn how their struggle is intertwined with the survival of the planet. Will these guardians of the Earth’s biological riches be able to protect their knowledge before it’s too late? ‘Third Person’ reveals this epic battle between traditional knowledge and greed.