Thursday 28 October 2010 16.38 BST
Jonathan Watts in Nagoya
A row over microscopic germs and monitoring mechanisms is holding back a global deal to protect nature as time runs out for negotiators at this week's UN biodiversity conference in Nagoya.
A final spurt of progress has taken the talks close to an agreement, but with only one day remaining and several key issues still to be resolved, there are fears that the time could run out before a protocol can be signed.
Among the most obstinate sticking points of the conference is how to treat pathogens, the germs responsible for virus pandemics such as bird flu and Sars, that are also essential for the development of lucrative vaccines.
Developing nations say they are willing to provide access to such organisms during medical emergencies as long as wealthy countries share the benefits from researching and patenting medicines.
But with billions of dollars at stake, pharmaceutical lobbies in Europe, Canada, Australia and South Korea are pressing for greater access and reduced benefit-sharing.
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