Scientific and technological advances have transformed the process of sourcing raw material for use in biodiversity-based innovation. They have made possible the use of the digitized information content of genetic resources in the industrial, pharmaceutical and agricultural sectors, with no need for access to physical samples. Such advances can facilitate biotechnological innovation and promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. At the same time, they create challenges for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resource use.

The term “digital sequence information” (DSI) refers to the digitized information content of genetic resources. Debates under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and other processes related to access and benefit-sharing (ABS) have centered on whether and how to ensure benefit-sharing from DSI use. Following years of deliberations, in December 2022, the CBD Conference of the Parties (COP) decided to establish a multilateral mechanism for benefit-sharing from the use of DSI on genetic resources, including a global fund. The COP also established the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Benefit-sharing from the Use of DSI on Genetic Resources to undertake further development of the multilateral benefit-sharing mechanism (Decision 15/9). Digital sequence information on genetic resources is also included in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) Goal C and Target 13 on fair and equitable benefit-sharing.

The first meeting of the Working Group in November 2023 initiated discussions on the development of the multilateral benefit-sharing mechanism, focusing on the issues for further consideration identified in the annex to Decision 15/9. Deliberations were organized under five clusters on: contributions to the fund; disbursement of the fund; non-monetary benefit-sharing; governance; and relation to other approaches and systems.

At its second meeting, the Working Group continued deliberations based on:

• possible elements of a multilateral benefit-sharing mechanism, outlined in the annex of the report of its first meeting; 
• a synthesis of information for the further development of the mechanism, including elements of a draft recommendation to the COP; 
• two studies, on meeting the criteria listed in paragraphs 9 and 10 of Decision 15/9 and on options for revenue-generating measures at different points along the value chain; and 
• reflections of the Co-Chairs of the Committee of the Whole, which take into consideration intersessional activities and commissioned studies.

The second meeting of the Working Group took place from 12-16 August 2024, in Montreal, Canada. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) writers for this meeting were Elsa Tsioumani, Ph.D., Asterios Tsioumanis, Ph.D., Nicole Schabus, LLM, and Tallash Kantai. The Digital Editor was Mike Muzurakis. The Editor was Pam Chasek, Ph.D.