Joann Sy, Pollinis
As Parties began discussions on synthetic biology under SBSTTA agenda item 5, the opening statements serve as a timely reminder that debates about synthetic biology reflect a deeper discussion about the future direction of biodiversity conservation, and are not limited to technical risk assessment or governance.
At its heart, the debate reflects a broader shift in the conservation framework. Traditionally, conservation has focused on restoring and maintaining the ecological and evolutionary processes that enable nature to recover, adapt, and sustain biodiversity. This has involved protecting species and ecosystems, restoring degraded habitats and addressing the drivers of biodiversity loss through measures such as habitat protection, sustainable resource management, and ecosystem restoration. Synthetic biology introduces a different paradigm: rather than protecting and supporting the natural processes through which ecosystems and evolution shape biodiversity, it proposes actively redesigning living organisms, populations and ecological interactions to achieve very specific outcomes. While proponents’ instrumental assessment lead to the assumption that t synthetic biology is a neutral tool to address challenges such as invasive species, wildlife diseases, and declining populations; a comprehensive assessment unveils the paradigm shift that changes our relationship with the world and the questions about ecological uncertainty, reversibility, ethics, governance, Indigenous Peoples' rights, local communities and equitable benefit-sharing.
As SBSTTA continues its consideration of synthetic biology, the challenge is not only how to assess individual technologies, but also how to ensure that conservation policy remains guided by the precautionary approach enshrined in the CBD and reflected in the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. In this regard, the conversation is ultimately about more than technology. It is about determining the role that increasingly powerful biotechnologies should, or should not, play in shaping the future of nature conservation.