Synthetic Biology

Synthetic Biology // Open-ended Online Forum November 2023
Wednesday // 11.22.2023

Open-ended Online Forum on Synthetic Biology for additional information gathering

In decision 15/31, the Conference of the Parties (COP) established a process for broad and regular horizon scanning, monitoring and assessment of the most recent developments in synthetic biology. This process should consist of (a) Information gathering; (b) Compilation, organization and synthesis of information; (c) Assessment and (d) Reporting on outcomes. To support this process, the COP established the multidisciplinary Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on synthetic biology and requested the Executive Secretary to convene this online forum to support the work of the multidisciplinary AHTEG.  

The first meeting of the multidisciplinary AHTEG was held from 11 to 14 July 2023 and a process for the 2023-2024 intersessional period consists of both multidisciplinary expert-driven submissions by members of the multidisciplinary Expert Group and a literature review to be conducted by the Secretariat. The process can be found in Annex I of the report of the meeting of the multidisciplinary Expert Group: https://www.cbd.int/meetings/SYNBIO-AHTEG-2023-01.  

Following a multidisciplinary-expert driven submission process, the experts identified a prioritized list of seventeen (17) trends and issues in synthetic biology. Further, of the 17 trends and issues in synthetic biology, the following five (5) were identified for more detailed information gathering to inform the assessment step: 

  1. Self-spreading vaccines for wildlife 
  2. Self-limiting insect systems 
  3. Development of engineered gene drives to control vector-borne diseases and invasive species 
  4. Integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning 
  5. Inequity in the participation of developing countries in the context of synthetic biology 

Accordingly, online discussions of this forum will be convened to gather additional information and support the assessment step, which will be conducted by the multidisciplinary AHTEG at their next meeting in January 2024. 

The forum will be moderated by Mr. Florian Rabitz, Lithuania.

The forum will open at 12:00PM (noon) on Monday, 6 November 2023, Montreal time (Eastern Standard  Time (EST)). 

The forum will now close at 17:00 (5:00 pm) EST on Wednesday, 22 November 2023.

Please note: A time change occurs (end of Daylight Savings time) in Montreal, Canada on 5 November 2023.  

Topic 1: Trends and issues in synthetic biology identified for more detailed assessment

From the virtual meeting of the multidisciplinary AHTEG, the experts identified 5 trends and topics in synthetic biology that could benefit from a more detailed assessment. The following were chosen:

1. Self-spreading vaccines for wildlife

2. Self-limiting insect systems

3. Development of engineered gene drives to control vector-borne diseases and invasive species

4. Integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning

5. Inequity in the participation of developing countries in the context of synthetic biology

Issue briefs have been prepared for each of the five trends and issues in synthetic biology. These have been made available on the right-hand side of this page and in each of the respective threads below. Participants are kindly encouraged to consider the suggested points provided in the initial posts when intervening on each of the trends and issues in synthetic biology. In addition, when responding, kindly indicate the point you are responding to, such that it facilitates a systematic analysis of the information.

Forum closed. No more comments will be accepted on this forum.

Topic 2: Capacity-building, technology-transfer and knowledge-sharing needs

In decision 15/31, the COP requested the Executive Secretary to facilitate international cooperation, and promote and support capacity-building, technology transfer and knowledge-sharing, regarding synthetic biology, taking into account the needs of Parties and of indigenous peoples and local communities. Further, the COP requested the multidisciplinary AHTEG to identify capacity-building, technology transfer and knowledge-sharing needs based on priorities determined by Parties on issues related to synthetic biology and in the light of the outcomes of the horizon scanning process.

Thus, participants are kindly invited to provide relevant information related to needs for capacity-building, technology-transfer and knowledge-sharing, including potential solutions. The following questions are meant to guide the discussion. Participants are encouraged to consider them when intervening, for their potential to facilitate a systematic analysis of the information.

What particular challenges impact the participation of developing countries in the field of synthetic biology?

What are the related capacity-building needs?

What concrete steps could be taken to address those needs?

What are the specific capacity building needs associated with the trends and issues identified for synthetic biology (see topic 1)?

How could technology transfer be facilitated?

What opportunities and modalities exist for knowledge-sharing?

How could broad cooperation be facilitated and the needs of indigenous peoples and local communities be taken into account?

Forum closed. No more comments will be accepted on this forum.