Overview
- Scientists for Genetic Diversity wrote to Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, and ICAR chief M. L. Jat urging an outright rejection of the GB11 Chair’s proposal.
- The group argues the deal is one‑sided and benefits multinational agribusiness and big tech, undermining farmers’ and indigenous communities’ rights to genetic resources.
- At GB11 in Lima, approval of payment rates, thresholds, and the final expansion of the Multilateral System was pushed to the next session, with changes to be integrated into a revised SMTA at GB12.
- Governance of Digital Sequence Information/Genetic Sequence Data was assigned to an Ad hoc body, which critics fear could sideline equitable benefit sharing for gene‑rich countries.
- The scientists criticized what they called the Indian delegation’s ‘deafening silence’ at GB11, and no public decision by the Indian government on the proposal has been reported.