PRRI participating in the UN Biodiversity Conference 2026

PRRI participated in the UN Biodiversity Conference 2026, held in Yerevan, Armenia, ntawm 19 mus 30 Lub kaum hli ntuj.

The conference brought together the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17), the 12th meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CP-MOP12), and the 16th Meeting of teh Parties to Nagoya Access and Benefit-sharing (NP-MOP6). The topics of Synthetic Biology and Biosafety were among the agenda items of particular interest to PRRI.

COP17 – Synthetic biology

A significant outcome of COP17 was the adoption of the Thematic Action Plan on Synthetic Biology. The voluntary plan offers opportunities to strengthen research and development, access to and transfer of technology, and knowledge-sharing, yog raug rau tej teb chaws. It could help these countries not only assess biotechnologies but also build their own scientific capacities and develop innovations in support of biodiversity conservation, sustainable use and fair and equitable benefit-sharing. The plan is intended to complement existing initiatives. Its success will depend on how countries, research institutions and funding bodies translate it into concrete action, ensuring that research and innovation receive attention alongside risk assessment and regulatory oversight.

CP-MOP12 – Risk assessment and risk management

Parties agreed to develop one additional voluntary guidance material for living modified fish, to expand capacity-building and to stablish a new Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on risk assessment. PRRI continues to emphasise that Annex III of the Cartagena Protocol provides a scientifically sound, case-by-case methodology applicable to all living modified organisms (LMOs). Practical, needs-based training remains essential; additional guidance documents alone do not necessarily improve risk assessment.

Academia & Research community

During the negotiations, PRRI also actively engaged in the Academia & Kev tshawb (IB&R) community, bringing researchers from many different disciplines together, encouraging exchanges with delegates and helping ensure that scientific perspectives were heard in the wider biodiversity discussions.