The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Cali produced few encouraging results with regard to the Precautionary Priniciple and the effective regulation of genetically engineered organisms, particularly gene drives.
Save Our Seeds had sent one staff member and one consultant. We campaigned for
(1) the continuation and deepening of horizon scanning, monitoring and assessment of technological developments in synthetic biology. A multidisciplinary expert group, in which SOS has also been involved, had recommended a closer analysis of a number of developments, including the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into synthetic biology and gene drives;
(2) a revision of the proposed guidance for the risk assessment of gene drives and the development of further risk assessment guidance for genetically modified fish, other aquatic organisms and self-limiting insects. The draft guidelines on gene drives had been developed with the participation of Target Malaria in such a way that their application is insufficient to protect against the complex risks of gene drives.
The following resolutions were adopted:
(1) An expert group with a new composition will continue the horizon scanning in the area of synthetic biology, but will not deepen it. The main focus should be on the contribution of synthetic biology to achieving the objectives of the Kunming-Montreal Agreement.
(2) A further group of experts should examine the need for new risk assessment guidance for genetically modified organisms under the Cartagena Protocol. Initially, no further guidance will be developed for fish or other genetically modified organisms.
In addition, a Cali Fund has been created to ensure that countries of the Global South, as well as Indigenous peoples and local communities, also benefit from the commercialisation of digitally stored genetic sequences. To start with, biotechnology companies are invited to making voluntary payments into this fund.
At the next COP in two years, the parties to the Cartagena Protocol will also discuss the differing legal requirements for so-called gene editing. Various countries have exempted or are in the process of excluding genetically modified organisms developed with gene editing from their GMO regulations.
