E-BIOM, Disyn Biotec, and Verna are the latest companies to contribute to the Cali Fund, sharing benefits from the use of nature’s genetic data across environmental DNA, enzyme engineering, and nature recovery software.
Three small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from Belgium and the United Kingdom have contributed to the Cali Fund at COP17. Each company draws on nature’s genetic data, or digital sequence information on genetic resources (DSI), in a different way. SMEs are not among those expected to contribute to the Fund, which makes these commitments a notable signal of interest in realising the Cali Fund’s vision.
A new commitment from Belgium
E-BIOM, which analyses biodiversity through environmental DNA (eDNA), is building into its business model a contribution of 0.1% of the value of each of its eDNA services, following its first voluntary contribution this year.
“For a company that lives off this data, it now seems only logical that part of the value it generates should return to funding the living world that makes it possible,” said Jonathan Marescaux, Founder and CEO of E-BIOM.
“By choosing to ensure that part of the value created through genetic data contributes in return to funding biodiversity, E-BIOM gives tangible form to the principle of fair and equitable benefit-sharing,” said Jean-Luc Crucke, Belgian Federal Minister for Climate and Environmental Transition.
New contributions from the United Kingdom
Disyn Biotec, a specialist in chemo-enzymatic retrosynthesis, has signed a revenue-sharing agreement with the Fund. The company is developing Biocat Copilot, route-scouting software for more sustainable, lower-cost manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and materials, built on a reaction database that draws heavily on global DSI.
“The explosion of AI and data-driven technologies, which underpin every biotechnology and biomanufacturing company, means they are all deriving value from DSI in some form,” said Ian Rowles, Managing Director of Disyn Biotec. “I strongly believe that all biotech companies, large and small, should look to follow our example.”
Verna provides an AI-powered software platform for nature recovery, used by more than 100 organisations to plan and track over 10,000 projects. Rafi Cohen, Co-CEO of Verna, described why the company contributed: “Verna is proud to contribute to the Cali Fund because our missions are aligned. We want to support the work of the Cali Fund directly, through contributions, and indirectly, through our AI technology, to support the integrity of ecosystems for future generations.”
The two companies join TierraViva AI, the first company to contribute to the Cali Fund, and Prozomix, the second contributor and the first from the biotechnology sector. Prozomix is a leader in biocatalyst discovery and production for pharmaceutical applications.
Early contributors across various uses of DSI
With these commitments, five companies have now contributed to the Cali Fund. They span AI-driven enzyme discovery and design, biocatalyst supply, nature recovery software, and biodiversity monitoring.
Learn more about each company and their contributions:
- E-BIOM becomes the third company to contribute to the Cali Fund
- Disyn Biotec contributes to the Cali Fund and pledges ongoing support
- Nature-recovery software company Verna contributes to the Cali Fund
About the Cali Fund
The Cali Fund is the global mechanism through which companies benefiting commercially from nature’s genetic data, or digital sequence information on genetic resources (DSI), fairly and equitably share the benefits arising from its use. Established under the Convention on Biological Diversity, it operates as part of the Multilateral Mechanism for benefit-sharing from the use of DSI. At least half of its resources are designated for indigenous peoples and local communities for their self-identified needs, with the remainder supporting developing countries in delivering their national biodiversity commitments.
How the Cali Fund works, and what is under discussion at COP17
Under Decision 16/2, adopted at COP16, large entities using DSI are expected to contribute. These are companies that meet two of three thresholds, averaged over the previous three years: US$20 million in total assets, US$50 million in sales, or US$5 million in profits. Expected sectors include pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, animal and plant breeding, biotechnology, laboratory equipment associated with DSI, and information services such as AI. The indicative contribution rate in Decision 16/2 is 1% of profits or 0.1% of revenue.
At COP17, Parties are considering several elements to further develop the Multilateral Mechanism, including:
- an allocation methodology for disbursing resources from the Fund
- studies on contribution rates, economic competitiveness, and on standards for identifying company size, which may inform future thresholds and rates
- potential additional modalities for contributions
- a methodology for reviewing the effectiveness of the Mechanism and the Fund, ahead of the first review at COP18
About E-BIOM
E-BIOM is a Belgian Deeptech SME specialising in environmental DNA (eDNA), to support organisations whose decisions expose them to biodiversity-related risks. By combining rigorous genomic data with ecological expertise, E-BIOM delivers reproducible and defensible indicators that allow Biodiversity Intelligence to serve corporate and strategic decisions. The company operates under a dual leadership, combining its original scientific foundation with corporate and ESG strategic management. Operating across both sides of the digital sequence information (DSI) framework, E-BIOM serves over 130 organisations across four continents from its laboratories in Belgium.
About Disyn Biotec
Disyn Biotec is a UK company specialising in chemo-enzymatic retrosynthesis. It combines enzyme discovery, enzyme engineering, and AI-driven digital tools, including RetroBioCat and Biocat Copilot, to help manufacturers design more sustainable, lower-cost routes to pharmaceuticals and materials, and to unlock new bioremediation processes.
About Verna
Verna provides the command centre for nature recovery. Powered by deep ecological expertise and the latest AI, it helps nature programmes to see the complete picture across every habitat, site, and project, spot and act on risks and opportunities, and communicate impact to decision makers, investors, and stakeholders. Verna’s software is used by more than 100 organisations across over 10,000 nature recovery projects, and Verna was awarded a place on the World Economic Forum’s Uplink programme.