Firms in the US, the largest exporter of genetically modified foods, quickly mobilized in opposition to this idea, while European countries, the largest importers of such foods, determined not to be caught out, rushed to its defense. Protection of genes is now one of the most controversial among all biodiversity subjects.
由於美國是生產基因作物的盟主，企業主因此聯手排拒生物議定書，但以歐洲為主的進口國也不甘示弱進行設防，使得遺傳基因的保護已成為「生物多樣性公約」中爭論最多的議題。