# Nagoya Protocol

> The Nagoya Protocol is a 2010 international treaty under the Convention on Biological Diversity governing access to genetic resources and fair sharing of their benefits.

- Canonical: https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/nagoya-protocol.html
- Also written: Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing, ABS protocol, Nagoya
- Glossary category: Legal and regulatory · Evidence: Established
- Status: Draft: awaiting expert review · Updated: 2026-10-31
- Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), attribute "GenetixBay cannabis glossary"

The Nagoya Protocol on Access to [Genetic Resources](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/germplasm.md) and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Adopted in 2010 and in force since October 2014, it requires parties to set rules so that genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge are accessed only with [prior informed consent](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/prior-informed-consent.md) and on mutually agreed terms, including [benefit-sharing](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/benefit-sharing.md).

## In practice

For plant genetics, Nagoya means that collecting seed from a country for breeding or research can require permission from that country's authorities, and from local or indigenous communities where their knowledge or resources are involved, plus an agreement on how benefits will be shared. Not every country is a party, and cannabis's controlled status adds separate legal barriers to collection and export.

The protocol is the legal backbone of the distinction between responsible [landrace](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/landrace.md) collection and [biopiracy](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/biopiracy.md). See [landrace hunting and biopiracy](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/genetics-history/landrace-hunting-and-biopiracy.md).

Rules differ by country, state, province and city, and change often. This is a general definition, not legal advice: check local rules.

## Don't confuse with

- **UPOV**: [breeders' rights](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/plant-variety-protection.md), not access and benefit-sharing.
- **The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture**: a related system for listed food and forage crops.

## Related terms

[Benefit-sharing](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/benefit-sharing.md), [Prior informed consent](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/prior-informed-consent.md), [Biopiracy](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/biopiracy.md), [Landrace hunter](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/landrace-hunter.md), [UPOV](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/upov.md)

## Read more

- [Landrace hunting or biopiracy? Benefit-sharing, consent and cannabis](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/genetics-history/landrace-hunting-and-biopiracy.md)

## Sources

1. Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. 2011. Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization. https://www.cbd.int/abs/