09/10/2026
Prof. Dr. Zafer Yenal, a faculty member at Sabancı Business School, and Dr. Ayşegül Sırakaya, a visiting researcher at the same school, will attend the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, to be held in Yerevan, Armenia, from October 19 to 30, 2026.
Prof. Dr. Zafer Yenal, who conducts research in the fields of sustainability, food security, and the sociology of agriculture, and Dr. Ayşegül Sırakaya, an expert in international biodiversity law and access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing, will follow global policy discussions regarding the conservation of biodiversity.
Fair Sharing of Digital Genetic Data on the COP17 Agenda
One of the key agenda items at COP17, which will address international cooperation for global biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources, is the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from the use of Digital Sequence Information (DSI).
Thanks to advancements in biotechnology, the genetic information of living organisms can be stored digitally and utilized by researchers across the globe. While this development offers significant opportunities for drug development, agricultural production, and scientific research, it also raises questions regarding how the countries and local communities to which these genetic resources belong will share in the resulting benefits.
The Cali Fund was established at COP16, held in Cali, Colombia, in 2024, to facilitate the sharing of benefits arising from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources. Issues regarding the fund's operation, such as corporate contributions and the equitable distribution of resources, are expected to be revisited at COP17.
Dr. Ayşegül Sırakaya to Speak on Digital Sequence Information
Dr. Ayşegül Sırakaya, who conducts research in the fields of international and European biodiversity law, focuses particularly on access and benefit-sharing (ABS), digital sequence information (DSI), and equitable research partnerships. Having completed her PhD in international and European law at Ghent University and subsequently conducted postdoctoral research at Lund University, Sırakaya has taught courses on access and benefit-sharing at universities in Sweden and Belgium. She also serves as a Lead Author for the Monitoring Assessment of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). Starting in August 2026, Dr. Sırakaya will bring her international academic experience to Sabancı University as a Visiting Researcher, focusing on agricultural biodiversity, genetic resources, and their governance.
On October 27, Ayşegül Sırakaya will also deliver a speech titled “Mainstreaming DSI Across Actors in the Value Chain” at an event organized by iDSI, an initiative she co-founded. The event will address the legal, technical, and governance dimensions of digital sequence information, as well as approaches to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration in this field.
