In an important step towards the conservation and sustainable exploitation of Brazilian biological resources, the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS) has officially established its new Microbiological Culture Collection. This achievement was made possible with the fundamental technical and scientific support of the Center for Microbiological Collections of the Paraná Network (CMRP/Taxonline) and the National Institute of Science and Technology for the Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources in Networked Collections (INCT-CERBC).
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The creation of the collection at UFMS represents a significant advance for microbiology research in the Midwest region of Brazil. Culture collections are essential infrastructures for the ex situ preservation of microorganisms, ensuring the maintenance of microbial biodiversity and providing authentic, high-quality biological material for scientific research, biotechnological development, and industrial applications.
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A major milestone of this project is the immediate integration of the new collection into the Brazilian Biodiversity Information System (SiBBr). Making this data available on SiBBr democratizes access to information about the conserved microorganisms, facilitating collaboration among researchers from different institutions and promoting the international visibility of Brazilian biodiversity.
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The support provided by CMRP/Taxonline and INCT-CERBC in structuring the UFMS collection demonstrates the effectiveness of networking. The transfer of expertise in curation, taxonomy, and biological data management strengthens partner institutions and consolidates the national infrastructure of biological collections, a strategic pillar for the country's bioeconomy and scientific sovereignty.