Microbial ex situ preservation supporting science and bioeconomy in Brazil

Abstract One of the texts in “Biodiversity State São Paulo” series, within FAPESP-Biota Program, was dedicated to Infrastructure for Biodiversity Conservation, with a focus on Biological Collections and Conservation Units. From early 1960s, when FAPESP established, present day, financial resources have been invested preservation biodiversity national genetic heritage, besides other fields. History years advances scientific knowledge built, which can be portrayed through projects that resulted high-quality data international impact. Microbiological collections are centers generate technology specialized human resources, act (among things) as living repositories preserving reference material witnesses history microbial because they preserve what may no longer exist. They enormous potential promote global bioeconomy address problems from misuse natural resources. This reading brings everyone history, advances, future perspectives culture collections, efforts 60-year activities Brazil.