The Alliance at COP16: Cali hosts biodiversity conference

A video summary of COP16

Cali is still humming with purpose after 15 days of intense discussions on the future of biodiversity. For two weeks, the streets teemed with diplomats, scientists, and advocates from all corners of the world, each making their way to the 16th UN Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of the Parties (COP16).

This landmark event sprawled across the city in two parts. First, a dynamic Green Zone, with around 350,000 m² open to the public, was packed with exhibits, panel discussions, and interactive experiences that invited people from diverse backgrounds to be part of pressing environmental topics. Complementing this was the Blue Zone, where 23,000 registered policymakers, scientists, and global leaders convened to negotiate solutions to biodiversity loss, climate change, and sustainable development.

The Alliance of Bioversity & CIAT stood out in both zones, and welcomed visitors to our Americas Hub near Cali, where high-level events brought together experts, thought leaders, and institutions.

Connecting people with nature at the Green Zone

COP16's Green Zone was a public area focused on engaging, interactive activities. Through 15 initiatives, the Alliance emphasized the importance of biodiversity and sustainability, spotlighting the essential role universities and research centers play in environmental conservation and sustainable development.

A highlight was Colombia’s accession to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, marking the country as the 53rd member of this global treaty. The Alliance’s critical role in the treaty’s ratification process was recognized, reinforcing a commitment to conserving and sustainably using seeds vital for food security.

Visitors also heard about the links between health, biodiversity, and climate change through multiple talks, while initiatives such as Colombia Bioconecta shared innovative projects focused on biodiversity conservation and restoration.

Colombia joins the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources to strengthen its agricultural sector

Carlo Fadda at the forum “Promoting sustainable management and conservation of agrobiodiversity and bioeconomy” led by the Italian Cooperation Agency

Carolina Navarrete participated in a panel about the endorsement of the Plant Treaty by the Government of Colombia.

Crops for Health and Nutrition research leaders participated in the panel on novel strategies for conservation of use of the agrobiodiversity.

Gerardo Gallego showcasing the Future Seeds genebank at the Colombia Bioconecta booth.

Mirjam Pulleman and Evert Thomas in a panel about innovations in coffee crops and agroforestry.

Member institutions of the Colombia Bioconecta Consortium

Our Campus: A hub for innovation

The Alliance’s campus in Palmira was the central stage for about 30 events throughout COP16. It hosted representatives from institutions such as the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), German Cooperation (GIZ), and World Wildlife Fund (WWF), who discussed the role of livestock in landscape restoration and explored novel approaches to sustainability. During his campus visit, Ireland’s Minister for Nature launched projects in Colombia and Honduras focused on biodiversity and sustainable development.

Scandinavian parliamentarians visited the Future Seeds genebank, discovering its connection to the Svalbard Vault in Norway. Additionally, in collaboration with the British Embassy, the Alliance organized a symposium on climate, biodiversity, and the economy, emphasizing the bioeconomy’s potential. The “Biodiversity and Business” event, co-hosted with the private sector, spotlighted sustainable business strategies in the COP16 context.

The Alliance also hosted the final stop on APC Colombia’s ‘South-South Cooperation Route’ at the Palmira campus, where visitors saw innovations for agricultural sustainability.

At the “Nourishing the Future” event, we joined Nestlé and The Nature Conservancy to reaffirm commitments to regenerative agriculture and net-zero emissions by 2050. The Innovation Tour provided a platform to showcase scientific solutions, underscoring biodiversity’s critical role in food systems and fostering the exchange of technologies and approaches for its conservation and sustainable use across countries, donors, and multilateral organizations.

Finally, our campus hosted the Biodiversity Grand Banquet of the COP16 High-Level Segment, attended by 400 representatives between government and observer organizations. The high-level dinner was an occasion to rediscover culinary traditional and diverse foods, with 4 world renowned chefs reinterpreting some of the country's famous dishes.

Throughout the 2 weeks, the campus in Palmira welcomed over 30 national and international media outlets, amplifying the Alliance’s pioneering initiatives and projects and highlighting its essential role in advancing sustainable solutions and collaborative efforts for environmental conservation.

Future Seeds tour during the Plant Treaty cocktail.

Ireland’s Minister for Nature was present for the launch of projects focused on biodiversity and sustainable development.

Green Building Council event at the Alliance's Kellogg Auditorum.

The Low-Methane Forages Project was showcased among donors and key stakeholders.

Journalists visited the Future Seeds genebank.

Visit of Central American policymakers to the Americas Hub.

Juan Lucas Restrepo at the Financial Times and Crop Trust event on using agricultural innovation to protect biodiversity.

Driving Biodiversity Solutions in the Blue Zone

At the Valle del Pacifico Convention Center (Blue Zone), where the political negotiations were taking place, Alliance scientists and researchers were present to support countries in critical conversations on agrobiodiversity, climate resilience, and sustainable food systems. At the heart of COP16’s discussions were several landmark issues that stand to shape the future of biodiversity and food systems.

Among them, the debate on digital sequence information (DSI) drew significant attention. DSI is increasingly crucial for agricultural research, as it provides essential data that enables scientists to study and improve crop resilience, disease resistance, and environmental adaptability. However, access to this information remains a point of contention, as countries seek fair policies that protect national interests while facilitating global research. Alliance researchers were instrumental in negotiating pathways that support equitable access to DSI, ensuring that scientific advances benefit all, particularly regions most vulnerable to climate impacts.

We are proud to see that, after a two-week long discussion, countries agreed to launch the Cali Fund for Equitable Benefit-Sharing that will compensate local communities for their efforts to conserve biodiversity, with a significant portion of the funding directed to Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

Beyond this, COP16 was also an historical moment for recognizing the contributions of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, whose traditional knowledge and sustainable practices are vital for biodiversity conservation and food systems resilience, through the establishment of a new dedicated Programme of Work on Article 8(j). Finally, we welcome the commitment of the Parties to increasing Cooperation Across the Rio Conventions – UNCBD, UNFCCC and UNCCD maximizing the impact of multilateral agreements.

What is digital sequence information’s role in agricultural research and benefit-sharing?

The Alliance at COP16 Cali hosts landmark biodiversity conference - Image 3

In parallel to the high-stakes negotiations unfolding in meeting rooms, scientists from the Alliance shared cutting-edge research and innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing biodiversity challenges.

Government action plans: At the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) Day on 22 October, Alliance scientists advised on ways countries can refine and strengthen their plans to integrate agrobiodiversity and support sustainable development goals. By incorporating agrobiodiversity, NBSAPs can better address the unique needs of national food systems and ecosystems, enhancing both conservation and resilience. While only 44 countries presented their NBSAPs at COP16, another 119 presented their revised targets. Colombia presented their updated NBSAP along with the first National Agroecology Policy, and highlighted the Agroecology Guidebook developed by the Alliance and partners, recognizing its importance in operationalizing national plans and programs & facilitating knowledge exchange.

Human health: On Health Day on 24 October, we highlighted the inextricable links between biodiversity and human health. Alliance scientists presented research on how diverse, biodiverse diets contribute to better health outcomes and resilience against disease. The outcomes of Health Day included calls for increased research into the benefits of biodiversity for health, as well as commitments to integrate biodiversity into public health strategies. Also, the Periodic Table of Food Initiative leaders and partners emphasized the initiative’s transformative role in mapping nutrients and exploring edible biodiversity. Through different events, they highlighted the need for biodiversity not only in diets but also across agricultural landscapes to bolster nutrition, resilience, and livelihoods worldwide.
Food security: Finally, Food Day on 28 October was dedicated to the intersection of biodiversity and food security, this day featured panels and workshops on sustainable food systems, with Alliance scientists leading sessions on integrating agrobiodiversity in climate-resilient agriculture. These discussions underscored the importance of crop diversity in maintaining food security and resilience to climate shocks. The outcomes emphasized actionable strategies for countries to incorporate biodiversity into their food policies, which could strengthen resilience against future food system disruptions.

The Alliance at COP16 Cali hosts landmark biodiversity conference - Image 4

Know Your Food: Tools to Revolutionize Food Composition and why this Matters for People and the Planet

Augusto Castro and Janelle Sylvester at the Science Policy Forum talking about environmental peacebuilding.

Alliance researchers chaired a discussion on advancing agreements on DSI and ABS.

Chris Kettle and Marléne Elias in the panel “empowering communities to restore land and biodiversity” at the Food & Agriculture Pavilion.

MyFarmTrees project at the CBD Innovation Expo.

Gina Kennedy and Carlo Fadda at the Bioversity and Health Day in the GBF Pavilion.

Juan Lucas Restrepo and Carlo Fadda participated in the CBD Initiative on Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition.

Michael Halewood at the Colombia Pavilion speaking on how to make the DSI multilateral mechanism a reality.

Commitment and collaboration

COP16 underscored the urgent need for transformative approaches to biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable food systems. The Alliance of Bioversity & CIAT’s active presence across the Green Zone, the Blue Zone, and the Palmira campus showcased our commitment to driving research and action at every level—from community engagement to high-level policy discussions. The conference outcomes emphasized the interconnectedness of biodiversity, health, and food security, with Alliance scientists contributing insights and solutions to address these global challenges. As COP16 ended, the Alliance reaffirmed the power of collaboration and scientific innovation in shaping a sustainable future for both people and the planet.

The Alliance at COP16 Cali hosts landmark biodiversity conference - Image 2

“This was a remarkable COP with an impressive participation of different sectors of the society, including the scientists. We are very glad, as a research organization working on agriculture and food systems, of having represented the scientists in these dialogues. We have been participating in different conversations around the importance of conserving biodiversity, including agrobiodiversity, the importance of using sustainably that biodiversity, but also the importance of managing responsibly that information, including those dialogues around digital sequence information.”

Marcela Quintero

Associate Director General, Research Strategy, and Innovation

“The Alliance brought support on monitoring mechanisms, improving the targets, ways to reach an agreement on a multilateral access for benefit sharing that includes digital sequence information. Our science, experience, and knowledge were here to provide for governments but also communities to do a better job and ensure that out of this COP there is very clear commitment on ways forward for biodiversity.”