The status of "digital sequence information" ("DSI") on genetic resources under international law is controversial. Countries that have regulated access to their genetic resources fear that the free use of published sequence data can undermine benefit-sharing regulations.

The UN Biodiversity Conference in 2022 had already decided that there should be a multilateral benefit-sharing mechanism for DSI (MLM). At this year's conference in Cali, Colombia, modalities for this mechanism were discussed. After two intensive weeks of negotiations, key points for this mechanism were agreed. These include

• A new fund is to be set up, the so-called Cali Fund, which will be managed by the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTFO).
• The decision sets payment expectations for companies above a certain size that benefit from the use of DSI. As an indicative payment rate 0.1 % of turnover or 1 % of profits are specified, which, for example, pharmaceutical companies, breeding companies or biotechnology companies are expected to pay into the fund annually.
• Parties to the CBD and other countries are invited to take measures to incentivise such payments.
• Many questions still need to be clarified regarding the administration and distribution of the money from the fund, which should be worked out by the next COP. Among other things, a steering committee is to be set up for these tasks.

Having in mind that this COP decision did not establish a legally binding benefit sharing instrument, companies are not obliged to pay. It will be up to each individual contracting party to implement the MLM nationally. However, before the first funds can be channelled into the new Cali Fund, it must first be established together with its administration. Rights under existing ABS agreements such as the Nagoya Protocol, the Plant Treaty or other agreements remain unaffected by the decision. Nevertheless, the implementation of the mechanism is intended to avoid duplicate payment expectations and to standardise processes in different agreements. 
As the Cali Summit has not yet been officially finalised, the content of the decision can currently only be found in a plenary document from the meeting (L-Document on DSI).