From Hackathon to policy: Why COP16 Policy Matters for Nextflow Users

This post has been written by our valued community members.

Do you process genetic sequences in your Nextflow workflows? Are you part of a research community or industry that depends on digital sequence information (DSI)? If so, you’ll want to know about the key outcomes from COP16 on Biological Diversity, held in Cali, Colombia, last fall.

COP16 2024 - Biological Diversity

From October 21 to November 1, 2024, the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the Convention on Biological Diversity took place in Cali, Colombia, under the theme Peace with Nature. Think of it as a massive mix of negotiations and conferences, where governments, scientists, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and industry representatives gather to tackle critical global challenges like biodiversity loss. While the climate COP may have stolen the spotlight, COP16 on Biological Diversity was just as crucial, especially for those working with non-human genomic data.

Why should this matter to Nextflow users?

Nextflow is predominantly used in bioinformatics, and therefore, we can guess that many of you process sequence data frequently. Digital Sequence Information (DSI) is a policy term that refers broadly to genomic sequence data and other related digital data (including DNA and RNA). However, there is currently no clear consensus on the exact interpretation and scope of the term. The challenge? Unlike physical genetic samples regulated by the Nagoya Protocol, DSI has largely remained in an unregulated gray area. This lack of clarity poses challenges for equitable benefit-sharing, especially when products built on this data can’t easily track their origins.

What changed at COP16 in 2024?

The headline win of COP16 was the creation of the Cali Fund. After 10 days (and one sleepless night) of intense discussions, an agreement was finally reached. Under the new agreement, companies profiting from DSI will now be required to contribute to a global fund. Half of the proceeds will directly support Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, and the rest will fund biodiversity efforts in developing countries.

“Even though it was upsetting to miss many of you at the Nextflow summit, attending COP16 was an eye-opening experience. Watching negotiations where every word of an agreement is scrutinized was somehow similar to a coding session (We all got stuck for hours because of a typo and checked over and over the same few lines!), but it reminded me how crucial it is for scientists to engage in these discussions. Many of our workflows and tools depend on access to DSI, and we have a responsibility to help shape policies that ensure fairness and open collaboration.” - Solenne Correard; Nextflow ambassador and scientific director at Wise Ancestors.

What’s in it for the Nextflow community?

Another exciting outcome? Recognition of non-monetary benefits! Beyond financial contributions, stakeholders agreed to share training, tools, and technology—areas where the Nextflow community is already leading by example. This opens up new opportunities for open science to shine, contribute directly to equitable genomics and learn from other stakeholders. By fostering more inclusive collaboration, we strengthen our workflows, tools, and community.

“Nextflow plays a crucial role in the scaling up of genome assembly production through workflows developed by the multiple genomic hubs and projects under the umbrella of the Earth BioGenome Project. As genome stream leader of the Biodiversity Genomes Europe (BGE) project—supporting the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) and International Barcode of Life Europe (iBOL Europe)—I see firsthand how essential tools like Nextflow are to democratizing high-quality genomics for biodiversity in Europe. By fostering open, fair, and equitable genomics, Nextflow supports the kind of collaborative, large-scale genome sequencing that is vital for biodiversity research and conservation as well as the future use of DSI by countries holding most of the biodiversity." — Camila Mazzoni, Genome Stream Leader, Biodiversity Genomes Europe (BGE) Project

What’s next?

Curious for more? Check out the CBD website for the full breakdown of COP16 decisions. We’ll also keep you updated as the Cali Fund evolves—especially how non-monetary contributions, like the tools we create, might fit in. Stay tuned!

This post was contributed by a Nextflow Ambassador. Ambassadors are passionate individuals who support the Nextflow community. Interested in becoming an ambassador? Read more about it here.