WP-2 will help to defragment operations and procedures at the science level to improve services and access to marine biological resources. Through the identification of gaps and bottlenecks in current service provision and operational procedures it will be possible to improve access to high quality marine biological resources will be greatly facilitated. WP2 will improve access to model organism information, harmonization of procedures, and ensure information on benefit-sharing is clearly presented to the users.
Task 2.1: Mapping of data resources related to marine biological resources:
- This task will focus on identifying biological resource centres (BRCs) in EMBRIC and determine which external data resources they should be linked to in order to provide additional added value to the BRCs
Task 2.2: Improve and standardize methods for culturing, quality control and shipment of live organisms:
- New trends, techniques and technologies will be mapped and bottlenecks / gaps in services will be identified through a series of workshops focusing on different aspects of culturing and culture collections of marine organisms
- Workshops will cover: cultivation of prokaryotes and protists; cultivation of macroorganisms and ethics; long-term preservation of organisms and reproductive technologies; genetic resources and containment; shipment and traceability.
Task2.3: To harmonize procedures for access to biological resources:
- This task will develop the necessary documents and procedures for accessing marine biological resources, ensuring users have clear and precise information concerning the status of biological resources in terms of rights and obligations of all parties
- The terms and conditions of and material transfer agreements used by BRCs in EMBRIC will be streamlined and ensure they are fit for purpose
- Development of a “passport” for all supplied marine biological material, providing information on: collection and culturing conditions (provenance, environmental impact, ethics, etc.); degree of legal compliance with the Nagoya Protocol and Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS)
- Develop a system for tracking the use of organisms and strains provided by EMBRIC BRCs. A unique code which can be used as a tracking number will be assigned to all cultures and organisms provided by EMBRIC BRCs.
