Research Articles What is digital sequence information’s role in agricultural research and benefit-sharing?
At the 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16), experts gathered to discuss the transformative role of digital sequence information (DSI) in agricultural research and conservation. The event examined both opportunities and challenges associated with DSI in crop improvement and biodiversity efforts and emphasized the need for modernized frameworks to support fair access and innovation in the agricultural sector.
On the first day of COP16, the Alliance - together with the CGIAR Genebank Initiative and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) - hosted an official side event entitled 'Sealing the deal on DSI Access and Benefit Sharing: a critical review of COP 16’s options from the perspective of agricultural R&D' to shed light in the rapidly evolving role of digital sequence information on genetic resources in agricultural research and conservation, and to consider implications for the draft decision on DSI benefit sharing that COP16 is meant to adopt by November 1st.
As the agricultural and scientific community increasingly turns to DSI to unlock the potential of agrobiodiversity conservation and crop and livestock improvement, the need for updated frameworks for sharing the benefits from the use of this information has become a pressing issue. The session offered an in-depth exploration of the technical, ethical, and policy implications of DSI use in agricultural research and development.
The first part of the event focused on the technological advancements in the generation, use and sharing of DSI and their profound impact on agricultural R&D. Peter Wenzl from the Alliance and Sarah Hearne from CIMMYT showed how DSI is revolutionizing our knowledge of plant genetic diversity, the links between and traits and genes, and the speed and accuracy of crop improvement programs. Wenzl emphasized that Using DSI to predict phenotypes enables the rapid identification of genebank accessions with desirable traits from an extraordinary diversity of genetic resources.
Scientists are developing dynamic, data-driven approaches that harness the informational value of DSI. The potential to map a vast range of genetic possibilities not only accelerates research but also expands the genetic resources that can be tapped into for crop improvement.
Advances in conservation research and plant breeding are supported by the availability of DSI, stored across a complex network of primary databases for sequence data and specialized databases with advanced interfaces for derived data.
Since the last COP in Montreal, the issue of databases providing public access to DSI has become a focal point in ongoing negotiations.
During his presentation, Mathieu Rouard emphasized the importance of this DSI database ecosystem, describing it as essential for scientific progress and innovation. He noted,
“We need to strengthen it, enhance its data governance, and ensure the system’s interoperability.”
All presenters stressed that these scientific advances require the international community to rethink existing approaches to benefit-sharing under both the CBD/Nagoya Protocol and the ITPGRFA. Traditionally, benefit-sharing under the ITPGRFA and CBD/Nagoya Protocol has focused on the exchange and use of physical genetic material. However, DSI has changed the landscape, allowing scientists to access and analyze genomic information from an extraordinary range of genetic resources as part of the upstream discovery research. The genetic resources from which the DSI was derived in most cases will not end up in final products, but access to and use of that DSI is nonetheless critically important in the upstream stage of the product development chain. This new reality requires benefit mechanisms that consider the use of both tangible genetic material and intangible DSI in crop improvement.
Alliance speakers at the session. Photo: JL Urrea/CIAT.
“The data-driven nature of modern agricultural research demands a shift from bilateral to multilateral benefit sharing in order to equitably recognize the contributions of genetic resources and DSI in upstream research.” said Michael Halewood.
One of the most contentious issues discussed in the event was analyzing potential ‘triggers’ for payments in a benefit-sharing system, determining when and how financial contributions should be made to the benefit sharing fund. Various models were debated, with options ranging from GDP-based contributions to payments based on economic value of sectors that use DSI directly or indirectly, to payments based on the commercial value of particular products developed through the use of DSI.
The panel discussed the relative pros and cons of two benefit-sharing options that involve de-linking benefit sharing from the use of DSI in particular products. Under one ‘de-linked’ option, payments would be required from companies that are active within sector identified by COP as using DSI. Under the second option, payments would be required by companies based on their sales of classes of products and services identified by COP. Ultimately, it seems that a combination of both (i.e., carefully defined sectors with an illustrative list of related products and services) could provide the best way of identifying, and communicating, the basis of expected payments from users.
Beyond monetary benefit sharing, the event underscored the importance of non-monetary benefits in benefit-sharing frameworks. Panelists Selim Louafi from CIRAD, and Álvaro Toledo from the Plant Treaty Secretariat expressed concerns that non-monetary contributions, including capacity building and knowledge exchange, could be overshadowed by a focus on financial compensation. Non-monetary benefits are critical, particularly for countries and regions that may not have the resources to fully participate in the global DSI landscape but can contribute knowledge and expertise. Panelists also discussed opportunities for linked-up reporting on benefit sharing under the CBD and the ITPGRFA,
Attendees called for a more integrated, collaborative system that reduces administrative burdens while ensuring fair access to genetic material and DSI.
This balance is essential for supporting ongoing research and innovation while preventing barriers to the sharing of valuable genetic resources.
A central theme of the discussion was the need for effective data-sharing mechanisms. While the creation of a single global DSI database (as is currently suggested as an option in the draft decision) might seem like an ideal solution, the panelists agreed that such an approach is impractical. They considered alternative approaches to increasing knowledge and transparency about what kind of data is out there, where it is stored, and how it is being used. They considered a platform or dashboard for providing such information that could be updated regularly and used as a mechanism for promoting best practices to ensure data interoperability, use of watermarks and meta data, including information about countries of origin or sources of materials, including the ITPGRFA’s multilateral system of access and benefit sharing. They also considered the possibility for supporting database infrastructures and capacities in Africa and Latin America as complements to the existing ecosystem of databases dealing with DSI. Such regional hubs in Africa and Latin America could provide these regions with better opportunities to participate in international systems for managing and sharing DSI and scale up capacity to generate and use DSI in conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity.
There was a clear consensus among the panelists and presenters: future benefit-sharing frameworks must be flexible enough to accommodate the rapid pace of technological advancements while ensuring that the global agricultural community can equitably share the rewards.
Multilateral systems offer the best path forward, providing the flexibility needed to adapt to new technologies and innovations in agricultural research while supporting biodiversity conservation. By moving beyond a purely bilateral approach, these systems can ensure that the benefits of DSI are shared in ways that are both equitable and sustainable.
The event offered a comprehensive exploration of the evolving role of DSI in agricultural research and conservation. As DSI becomes a cornerstone of crop improvement and biodiversity efforts, it is imperative that benefit-sharing mechanisms evolve to reflect the new realities of data-driven research. Moving forward, the development of multilateral frameworks that balance innovation with equity will be key to ensuring that the global agricultural community thrives in an era of unprecedented technological advancement.
The Team
Michael Halewood
Genetic Resources and Seed Systems Policies Team Leader
Mathieu Rouard
Senior Scientist - Plant genomics and bioinformatics
José Luis Urrea-Benítez
Communications Specialist
Chiara Villani
Global Engagement and Executive Communications Senior OfficerLearn more in the video
Header Image: Mathieu Rouard speaking about IWGSC, GrainGenes, Ensembl and Other Data Repositories at UNCBD COP16 in Cali, Colombia. Photo: CIAT/JL Urrea.