The DSI Dialogue offered participants the opportunity to discuss the issue of DSI in an informal context and outside of the formal process leading up to the fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP 15) in Kunming, China, at which time further decisions will be made on “how to address digital sequence information on genetic resources in the context of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework“. The two-and-a-half-day meeting focused on the exchange of technical information as well as understanding the views, priorities and expectations of the other participants. The objective of this dialogue was to lead to the increased capacity of all actors to participate effectively in the discussions on DSI. Participants were particularly interested in understanding the concept of DSI and its use, the issue of benefit-sharing, technical issues relating to data, databases, traceability and open access, regulatory and non-regulatory options and the possible implications as well as capacity building.