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Nordic Project on Access and Benefit Sharing Gathers Experts on Genetic Resources

Date: 2021.05.03

Climate change and the loss of biodiversity makes it crucial for researchers and breeders to access genetic resources. The benefits arising from the use of these resources should also be distributed in a fair way. Access and benefit sharing of genetic resources are difficult and complicated issues, but NordGen is right now arranging expert seminars as part of a multidisciplinary project aiming to reach a Nordic joint view on the matter which corresponds to international agreements.

Almost twenty years ago, in 2003, the report “Access and Rights to Genetic Resources. A Nordic Approach” was published. It recognizes the need to develop a joint Nordic approach to the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and a strategy for covering all the political, legal and biological perspectives that are integrated with the matter. Since then, much has happened. The International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) and The Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing has been adopted and entered into force.

“The international agreements, as well as the unprecedented decrease in biodiversity we’re currently seeing, made it obvious that there was a need to update the report from 2003. The Nordic countries are dependent on working together on these matters and we would all benefit from sharing a joint view on these important questions with the international community”, said Lise Lykke Steffensen, Executive Director at NordGen.

The Kalmar declaration

The Nordic countries are unique in their approach to genetic resources, as the entire Nordic seed collection safeguarded by NordGen is seen as a common Nordic public good. This is stated in the so-called Kalmar declaration from 2003, which was a direct outcome of the report mentioned above. In plain English, this means that all our seeds are freely accessible for research and developments, plant breeding, training, demonstration etc. and without any restrictions. In many other countries this only applies to the list of crops regulated in the so-called Multilateral System (MLS) developed by ITPGRFA.

“The Kalmar declaration is the very foundation of NordGen’s work. But the latest development at the international level has raised questions of whether the document needs to be updated. Having these expert seminars will guide the Nordic countries in how to act on the matter”, said Steffensen.

Five different seminars

Two online expert seminars have already been arranged, focusing on animal genetic resources and plant genetic resources. Today, the 3^rd of May, a seminar on aquatic genetic resources is on the agenda and in the beginning of June another two will be arranged, focusing on forest genetic resources and wild genetic resources. All seminars as well as the planned outcome, an updated report, are part of the project “Access and Rights to Genetic Resources – a Nordic Approach (II)”, financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers.

The results are expected to be presented in several different international forums, such as the COP15 to the CBD, the Governing Body to the ITPGRFA and the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) where issues concerning access and benefit sharing of genetic resources are discussed and agreed upon.

“Genetic resources are providing us with numerous benefits such as food, medicine, shelter, biotechnology, energy and countless ecosystem services. The report aims at providing guidance and tools for how to use these resources in a sustainable way. This concerns many different stakeholders and interests, and it is not an easy balancing act, but we believe that a shared Nordic approach to the matters will be valuable for all involved”, said Lise Lykke Steffensen.