“Digital sequence information” (“DSI”) plays a fundamental role in environmental and biological research, contributing to understanding of the molecular basis of life and evolution and of the ways in which genes can potentially be manipulated to provide new therapies and cures for diseases, new energy sources and other new products. It also plays important roles in taxonomy, identifying and mitigating risks to threatened species, tracking illegal trade, identifying the geographical origin of products and planning conservation management.

The Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, in collaboration with the Convention on Biological Diversity, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, CABI and the CGIAR Genebank Initiative is organizing a Global Workshop that aims to:

• raise awareness among relevant stakeholders of the role of DSI for the conservation and sustainable use of GRFA and the sharing of benefits derived from them,

• address the state of the art of DSI on genetic resources,
• present possible implications that related technologies might have for research and development related to GRFA, and
• consider the challenges associated with accessing and making full use of DSI.

#CGRFA; #DigitalSequenceInformation; #DSI