Negotiations are underway at the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and other international instruments to determine benefit sharing frameworks derived from the utilization of digital sequence information on genetic resources (DSI). In December, 2022, the CBD will hold its 15th Conference of the Parties (COP) in Montreal, chaired by China. It is likely that major policy decisions will be made at COP 15 that will influence future conditions and obligations for access to and utilization of DSI.

The German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), the Meridian Institute and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) are co-hosting this workshop to bring together business leaders interested in DSI, CBD country negotiators, researchers and scientists, and philanthropists. Based on ideas developed at previous meetings on DSI, participants will discuss the challenges and opportunities of the current CBD negotiations, review the most likely outcomes and their potential positive and negative impacts on industry and explore ideas for a constructive solution.