Under the Microscope: MIRRI-ERIC Contributes to Guiding the Microbial Community Through the Nagoya Protocol

As international regulations surrounding microbial resources continue to evolve, researchers and innovation stakeholders face growing challenges in navigating the complex legal landscape linked to biodiversity, access, and benefit-sharing. To support the scientific community in understanding and complying with these obligations, two scientific papers have been published and are available to help the microbial community navigate the Nagoya Protocol.

MIRRI-ERIC took part in both publications, addressing the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol and the broader international legal frameworks governing microbial resources, in a collaborative dynamic that joined European projects Microbes-4-Climate and MICROBE.

The papers — "From access to use: Untangling the international legal frameworks that govern microbial resources" and "How to 'do' the Nagoya Protocol: common misconceptions, challenges and best practices for access and benefit-sharing compliance" — were recently accepted in the journal Sustainable Microbiology after receiving positive evaluations and only minor revision requests.

Originally conceived as a single publication, the manuscript was finally split into two focused papers to better address the legal and operational dimensions of access and benefit-sharing (ABS) compliance. The original combined version remains openly accessible through Zenodo.

 

MIRRI-ERIC partners involved

From the MIRRI-ERIC side, the initiative brings together expertise from several partner institutions, including members of the University of Valencia (UVEG), University of Turin (UNITO), Polytechnic Institute of Porto (IP), French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE), and Institut Pasteur (IP), alongside prospective member institutions such as the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and CABI.

For MIRRI-ERIC, the Nagoya Protocol and related discussions, including emerging issues connected to Digital Sequence Information (DSI), represent a strategic priority. As a European research infrastructure dedicated to microbial resources and biodiversity, MIRRI-ERIC plays a central role in helping users navigate increasingly complex international regulations while promoting responsible and compliant scientific innovation.

Despite the growing relevance of ABS frameworks, a significant part of the research and innovation community remains unaware of the obligations associated with the use of microbial resources. The two papers aim to bridge this knowledge gap by clarifying the regulatory frameworks that govern access and utilisation of microbial material, identifying common misconceptions, and proposing practical recommendations and best practices for compliant research and innovation activities.

 

Collaborative spirit 

Beyond regulatory guidance, the publications also emphasise the broader importance of equitable collaboration, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable innovation. By fostering awareness and facilitating compliance, the work contributes to strengthening trust and transparency across the international microbial research ecosystem.

The development of the papers also reflects the collaborative spirit of the wider European research infrastructure and the landscape of institutions. Alongside the direct involvement of MIRRI-ERIC partners, the work benefited from exchanges with external institutions and synergies with other European initiatives, having the MICRObiome Biobanking (RI) Enabler (MICROBE) and the Microbes-4-Climate (M4C) projects as main developers.

These collaborations continue to expand the MIRRI-ERIC stakeholder community and reinforce cross-infrastructure cooperation on critical issues affecting microbiome research, biodiversity governance, and responsible innovation.

 

This text had the contribution of Aurora Zuzuarregui (UVEG-CECT) and Mariana Ferrari (IP).