User perspectives on the sharing of benefits from the use of Digital Sequence Information (DSI) on genetic resources

During the past few years, an international discussion has been taking place on whether the utilisation of Digital Sequence Information (DSI) on genetic resources should be subject to Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) obligations, like the utilisation of genetic resources already is. The main discussion forum is the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). During its Fifteenth meeting, held in December 2022, the Conference of the Parties to the CBD (COP 15) decided that benefit-sharing from the utilisation of DSI on genetic resources would follow a multilateral approach with a global benefit-sharing fund. A follow-up process was started to discuss further details of this multilateral benefit-sharing system and the ways in which the global benefit-sharing fund would be operationalised.

From 18-21 March 2024, the Meridian Institute organised a meeting entitled ‘User Perspectives on the CBD Multilateral Mechanism for Benefit-sharing from the Use of DSI’ on the Island of Vilm, Germany. During this meeting, commercial and non-commercial users and representatives of European countries participating in the ongoing negotiations discussed possibilities for the sharing of benefits from the use of DSI on genetic resources. The meeting was intended to generate ideas and information that could be useful in the current international discussions, such as those within the currently active Informal Advisory Group (IAG) on Benefit-sharing from the Use of Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources, and in the negotiations that will take place in the Second meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Benefit-sharing from the Use of Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources, to be held in August 2024, and the Sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 16), to be held in October-November 2024.

A report summarizing the key outcomes of the Vilm meeting can be accessed here.

For more information and for sharing your views on benefit sharing from the use of DSI on genetic resources, you may contact Ms Kim van Seeters (ABS Competent National Authority; k.vanseeters@minlnv.nl) and/or Mr Martin Brink (National Focal Point on ABS; martin.brink@wur.nl).