Results and scientific advances

Animal biology research has a growing need for BRCs to optimize the use of samples.

Since 2013, CRB-Anim has collected 140,850 samples of 19 domestic animal species.
In 2016, CRB-Anim has enlarged its perimeter by integrating the tropical CRB 'Carare' located in Guadeloupe. Two BRCs have been certified for the NFS 96-900 standard.
The comparative analysis of operating costs was undertaken with the different BRCs in order to prepare the economic model of the infrastructure.
Technological developments continued on seed fertility prediction, development of new cryopreservation protocols and improvement of somatic cell reprogramming mechanisms, with several international publications and commercialization leads.
The year 2016 saw a major effort on the BRC information system with the preparation of the web portal that will be the single window for requests for entry or exit of samples for all domestic animal species. This portal was launched in May 2017 and contributes to the information system of the European IMAGE project.
The evolution of the Nagoya protocol regulations is a constant concern of CRB-Anim's partners and is integrated into the operation of the portal.

Several examples of work have been supported by CRB-Anim for a range of species: mammals, birds, fish.

CRB-Anim has launched a call for tenders to support the characterization of its collections: 13 projects concerning 8 species (cattle, sheep, pigs, dogs, cats, trout, perch, chicken) have been supported for a total budget of 510 k€ over 2017-2018.
CRB-Anim has enabled the development of new methods in reproductive biotechnology for cattle and chicken, and is now preparing the sustainability of its organization beyond 2022 with different actions:

•     foresight and scientific watch,
•     training,
•     scientific and economic partnership.

The dynamics launched enabled France to coordinate the European H2020 IMAGE project (2016-2020) and facilitated France's acquisition of the secretariat of the FAO focal point on animal genetic resources.

The long-term preservation of animal genetic and reproductive collections is a major tool for maintaining genetic diversity.

CRB-Anim was a pilot project to group together all the agronomic CRBs (animal, plant, forest, micro-organism, environment) in the national RARe infrastructure of which it is now the animal pillar. Included in the national roadmap since 2016, RARe allows a sustainable and transversal strategic reflection on the perspectives of valorization of agronomic resources. RARe will contribute to the Global Genome Biodiversity Network to facilitate access to information on biological resources for research.
In this broad context, CRB-Anim also integrates the ethical and social issues raised by the conservation of biodiversity at different scales.