Discussion on digital sequence information on genetic resources

Digital sequence information on genetic resources (hereinafter called DSI) refers to data generated through sequencing technologies. It consists of a broad range of genetic sequence data, which includes the digitalized details of an organism’s DNA and RNA, and chemical structure information of natural products. Considering its significance, DSI has become a hot-button issue of discussions around international treaties such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, and the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework for the Sharing of Influenza Viruses and Access to Vaccines and Other Benefits, with particular focus on its access, use, and benefit-sharing process. Since 2016, fruitful discussions have been made among stakeholders about DSI’s access and use, albeit disagreements remain in some areas, examples of which are the connotation and denotation of the placeholder term, DSI’s relevance to genetic resources, the definition of open access, the monitoring of DSI use. Through analytical research of DSI itself and controversies arising from it, we come to the following observations: Science advice alone is not enough to mitigate the differences originating from the conflict of interests between stakeholders; DSI’s placeholder status has made the fulfillment of the benefit-sharing obligation to it more complex; The large variety of domestic regulations around DSI that exist in parties implies that the setup of a feasible, multilateral international system is no easy task; An approach that coordinates different framework conventions is urgently needed to tackle the ongoing challenges facing DSI. To effectively cope with the challenges and opportunities brought by DSI’s access and use, China, as a major provider and user of DSI in the world, should intensify efforts made in the following four areas: (1) Fundamental researches on DSI; to this end, we should encourage the adoption of interdisciplinary approaches in DSI research and introduce pilot demonstration projects on access to and benefit-sharing of DSI; (2) The timely establishment of biological data administration system; we should construct a comprehensive system of biological resource data made up of crucial components including classification, convergence, sharing, research, utilization, cross-border transmission, and benefit-sharing; (3) Infrastructure development that increase the openness, safety, sharing, and reciprocity of the production and storage of global biological resource data; we should strengthen international cooperation in this regard; (4) Better use of the cross-departmental coordination mechanism that involves organizations represented by the China National Committee for Biodiversity Conservation (CNCBC), we should continue to increase the synergy effects originated from China’s greater participation in international fora on DSI.