BioBanco
In face of global biodiversity losses, due to habitat degradation and pollution, the creation of biodiversity biobanks has been explored as a promising approach for the conservation of endangered species, and its regulated and fair use by scientific and industrial entities. In Portugal, the creation of a national biobank for marine resources is deemed a strategic priority, not only to promote the country’s role in increasing the current knowledge of the planet’s biodiversity, but also to contribute to the international visibility of national bioresources and its economic valorization in international chains.
In view of the above, the Consortium aims to establish the Portuguese Blue Biobank project, focused on the implementation of a national network of marine resources Biobanks, with a dedicated infrastructure and increasingly digitalized tools to enable mapping the national resources, monitorization of their end-uses and distribution (both for commercial exploitation and scientific research), as well as the application of the international Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing.
Thus, the Portuguese Blue Biobank initiative will not only promote the transference of knowledge among the blue bioeconomy entities, but also the protection of national bioresources and its economic valorization, as it will enable the commercialization of samples and licensing of IP in global markets, after its integration in the EMBRC and MIRRI European infrastructures. Furthermore, this initiative proposes to address the lack of a concrete legal framework regarding the collection and use of marine bioresources in Portugal, which has been hindering the development and establishment of Blue Bioeconomy activities. Therefore, the Portuguese Blue Biobank members will contribute to the development of support studies and regulation proposals that ensure the national bioresources protection and state the terms and limitations to the different Blue Bioeconomy sectors.
Get to know more at: Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência português
