What’s at Stake with Digital Sequence Information (DSI)?

We live in a time where life can be digitized. Genes, seeds, microbes, and plants are not only stored in physical labs — they’re also stored in digital databases. This genetic digital data is what we call Digital Sequence Information (DSI). But DSI isn’t just science. It’s politics, economy and environmental exploration.

What is DSI?

DSI refers to digital data that represents the genetic makeup of living organisms.
For example:

The DNA code of a medicinal plant
The genome of a soil microorganism
The gene sequence of an Amazonian tree

These sequences are stored in open-access global databases, where scientists — and companies — can use them to create products, patents, or innovations without returning benefits to the communities or countries of origin.

Why It Matters

DSI plays a huge role in:

Biotechnology and synthetic biology
Pharmaceuticals and agriculture
Climate adaptation and conservation

But when DSI is taken from biodiversity-rich countries — especially in the Global South — and used by actors in the Global North without benefit-sharing, it replicates a pattern of digital extractivism.

The Legal Debate

Under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Nagoya Protocol, there are international rules for Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) when using genetic resources.

But DSI is currently not fully covered under these rules. That means:

Companies can access DNA sequences freely without consent or compensation
Countries and Indigenous communities lose control over their biological heritage
Existing ABS frameworks are weakened in the digital age

What Needs to Change

Clear legal protections for DSI under international law
Consent mechanisms for access and use
Benefit-sharing models that include data, not just physical samples
Recognition of traditional knowledge in data governance

References

Sara Dal Monico. A New Horizon in Biopiracy Trends? Preliminary Considerations on Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources. 2024. Disponível em: https://iris.unive.it/handle/10278/5080262. Acesso em: 7 jan. 2025.
CONVENÇÃO SOBRE DIVERSIDADE BIOLÓGICA (CDB). Protocolo de Nagoya sobre Acesso a Recursos Genéticos e a Repartição Justa e Equitativa dos Benefícios Derivados de sua Utilização Relativo à Convenção sobre Diversidade Biológica. Montreal: CBD, 2011. Disponível em: https://www.cbd.int. Acesso em: 6 jan. 2025.
CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY. Sixteenth meeting, Cali, Colombia, 21 October–1 November 2024: Agenda item 9 – Digital sequence information on genetic resources, Decision adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity on 1 November 2024 (Decision 16/2). Disponível em: https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-16/cop-16-dec-02-en.pdf. Acesso em: 3 dez. 2024.
Convenção sobre Diversidade Biológica (CBD). Decisão 14/20: Consideração de informações sobre a sequência digital de dados (DSI). CBD/DEC/14/20, 2018. Disponível em: https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-14/cop-14-dec-20-en.pdf. Acesso em: 20 mar. 2025.
Convenção sobre Diversidade Biológica (CBD). Decisão 15/9: Discussão sobre informações digitais de sequência (DSI) e recursos genéticos. CBD/DEC/15/9, 2020. Disponível em: https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-15/cop-15-dec-09-en.pdf. Acesso em: 20 mar. 2025.
CONVENÇÃO SOBRE DIVERSIDADE BIOLÓGICA (CBD). Documento CBD/DSI/AHTEG/2020/1/2. 02 jan. 2020. Disponível em: https://www.cbd.int/doc/c/3e5b/6c2b/ac32a5d0a0a0a746f0964a0f/dsi-ahteg-2020-01-02-en.pdf. Acesso em: 20 mar. 2025.
COUTO, Fabiano Corrêa da Silva. Panóptico Digital e Estruturas Psicopolíticas. Logeion: Filosofia da Informação, v. 9, n. 2, p. 106-123, 2023. Disponível em: https://philpapers.org/rec/COUPDE. Acesso em: 3 dez. 2024.
Fernandes Lima, N. and Teles Silva, S. “Conciliating the overlap of protected areas and traditional territories: legal innovations for biological diversity conservation in brazilian parks.” 2019. [PDF]
Guedes Barros da Silveira, C. “A legislação brasileira na tutela dos conhecimentos tradicionais de populações de Benjamin Constant (Am).” 2012. Disponível em<https://core.ac.uk/download/234024536.pdf> Acesso em 30 de nov. de 2024.
INSTITUTO IEPE. Direito à consulta e consentimento de povos indígenas, quilombolas e comunidades tradicionais. Instituto IEPE, 2024. Disponível em: https://institutoiepe.org.br/2024/01/direito-a-consulta-e-consentimento-de-povos-indigenas-quilombolas-e-comunidades-tradicionais/. Acesso em: 17 mar. 2025.
KRENAK, Ailton. Ideias para adiar o fim do mundo. São Paulo: Companhia das Letras, 2019.
KRENAK, Ailton. Futuro ancestral. 1. ed. São Paulo: Companhia das Letras, 2022. pp. 09-45
LAWSON, Charles; HUMPHRIES, Fran; ROURKE, Michelle. Challenging the existing order of knowledge sharing governance with digital sequence information on genetic resources, Journal of Intellectual Property Law & Practice, Volume 19, Issue 4, April 2024, Pages 337–357, https://doi.org/10.1093/jiplp/jpad129
LEITE, José Rubens Morato; SILVEIRA, Paula Galbiatti Silveira; BETTEGA, Belisa. Princípios estruturantes do estado de direito para a natureza. In: LEITE, José Rubens Morato; DINNEBIER, Flávia França (Org). Estado de Direito Ecológico: conceito, conteúdo e novas dimensões para a proteção da natureza. São Paulo: Inst. O direito por um planeta verde, 2017, pp.166-201.