ACM Members CAMBODIA

Secretariat, National Steering Committee for Biosafety, Ministry of Environment (MOE) CHINA

Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMCAS) INDIA

Microbial Type Culture Collection and Gene Bank (MTCC), CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (CSIR-IMTECH) INDONESIA

Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) JAPAN

Biological Resource Center, National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NBRC)

Japan Collection of Microorganisms, RIKEN BioResource Center (JCM) KOREA

Korean Collection for Type Cultures/BRC, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KCTC), Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB)

Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (KACC), National Academy of Agricultural Science

Korea National Research Resource Center (KNRRC) LAOS

Research Institute of Science (RIS), Science Technology and Environment Agency (STEA) MALAYSIA

Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) MONGOLIA

Institute of Biology, Mongolian Academy of Sciences (IB-MAS) MYANMAR

Botany Department, Pathein University PHILIPPINES

National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH), University of the Philippines Los Baños

Ecosystems Research Development Brueau (ERDB), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)

Microbiological Research and Services Laboratory, Natural Sciences Research Institute (NSRI), University of the Philippines, Diliman (UPD)

University of Santo Tomas Collection of Microbial Strains (USTCMS), Thomas Aquinas Research Complex THAILAND

National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA)

Microbiological Resource Center (MIRCEN), Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR)

Biodiversity-Based Economy Development Office (PO), The Government Complex Commemorating His Majesty VIETNAM

Department of Science and Technology Management, Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST)

Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology (IBMT), Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNUH)

Purpose In order to raise the effective use in which preservation of the microbe resources in Asia and continuation are possible in harmony with Asian nations, promote cooperation with the government of Asian nations, or a public institution.

The ACM is established for the following items;

Development of a framework for international cooperation to encourage microbiological researches Development of microbial resources characteristic for each country Construction of the mechanism for academia and industry to utilize microbial resources Establishment of BRC network Establishment of international standards for biological material transfer and benefit-sharing Improvement and sharing of standardized techniques

Contact to; ACM Secretariat

c/o NBRC, 2-5-8, Kazusakamatari, Kisarazu, Chiba, 292-0818, Japan

E-mail: acm_desk@nite.go.jp LIPI

MARDI

BIOTECH ERDB-DENR

NSRI-UPD UST

NBRC JCM IMCAS

KCTC KACC

KNRRC

IB-MAS

MOST VNU BIOTEC

TISTR BEDO

RIS-STEA

PU MTCC

MOE

The Asian Consortium for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Microbial Resources (ACM) was established in 2004 by representatives of 12 Asian countries (Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam) on the occasion of the 10th International Congress on Culture Collections in Tsukuba, Japan, to strengthen the relationships among Asian countries, as well as encourage and facilitate international cooperation for biotechnology using microbiological resources in Asia. Currently, 22 organizations from 13 countries including India are members of ACM.

II. TF-Human Resource Development (HRD) ACM was established for the purpose of conservation and sustainable use of microbial genetic resources in Asian countries that are blessed with rich biological diversity. In the first meeting of ACM, 12 Asian countries agreed to collaborate on human resource development. At that time, TF-HRD was established. The TF-HRD covers three objectives, (i) Training, (ii) Exchange Scientists, and (iii) Research collaboration addressing specific issues to attract funding source. ACM Workshop: International Training course on Application of Biotechnology Tools for Rapid Identification of Food-borne Pathogens (2013)

III. TF-Management of Material Transfer (MMT) Microbial Resource Centers (MRCs) have a long standing tradition in teaching and research of microbes and also have an important role in industries. Through research and commercialization, they contribute significantly to the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Nagoya Protocol (NP). Thus, the access and benefit-sharing regulations of the CBD (Article 15) and the NP are of special importance for MRCs. In this TF, much work was done by MRCs towards the development of a model for voluntary implementation of the CBD’s Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) and NP provisions. Initiated by pilot projects at a TF-MMT in ACM, a “Network of International Exchange of Microbes in Asia (NIEMA)” has been discussed.

The ACM has established 3 Task Forces: Asian BRC Network (ABRCN), Human Resource Development (HRD), and Management of Material Transfer (MMT). The ACM members expect the expansion of the activities to reach the international standardized scheme to encourage microbiologists to study biological diversity to solve the global issues on the environment and human welfare.

I. TF-Asian BRC Network (ABRCN) The Task Force on ABRCN of ACM appointed Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Thai experts to be the members of Working Group to construct a prototype of the database. After a year-long discussion and cooperative work to select the data items based on the minimum dataset (MDS) as shown in the OECD Guideline and standardization of the record, we completed an integrated microbial strain database which consists of CGMCC, NBRC, KCTC and BIOTEC Culture Collection (BCC). Software and web interface of the database were developed by the Institute of Microbiology, CAS. The data stored in local servers and databases could be searched and maintained by web service. Currently, there are more than 20,000 entries from the four member institutes. The data includes scientific names, history, other numbers for each entry. ABRCN is the first international network of BRCs among Asian countries for microbial strain database. Working Group members are expecting that more culture collections in Asian countries would join this network to cover larger microbial diversity. ABRCN website <http://www.abrcn.net>

ACM9, October 2012, Chiang Mai, Thailand

The Activities of ACM should cover the following:

I. Collaboration through the network of biological resource centers;

II. Promotion of research and development on microbial resources and their application in industrial and other uses;

III. To enhance public awareness on the Consortium’s activities for the conservation and sustainable use of microbial resources;

IV. Development of human resources; V. Exchange of views and information; VI. To organize scientific meetings

(seminars, workshops, etc); VII. Others

Kazusa Statement (2011): All ACM members discussed and approved Kazusa statement at ACM7 (2011). ACM members have recognized the diversity of microbes, their important roles in global ecosystem, and significant contribution to academia, biotechnology and bio-industries. We agreed: prompt action of each country towards ex-situ conservation of microbes, active international research cooperation, creating a list of domestic microbes, initiative of microbial taxonomists, capacity building for microbial taxonomists in each country.