Policy in Practice: How to do the Nagoya Protocol: common misconceptions, challenges and best practices for access and benefit-sharing compliance
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The Nagoya Protocol establishes an international framework for access and benefit-sharing including for microbial research. Yet many microbiologists have only a vague understanding of what the Nagoya Protocol requires and are unsure how to navigate its complexities, despite the fact that non-compliance can have significant legal consequences and far-reaching reputational and legal impacts. This paper discusses common misconceptions and practical challenges that microbiologists may encounter when complying with the Nagoya Protocol and a step-by-step guide on how to "do" the Nagoya Protocol. We present three case studies to showcase real-life experiences and provide best practice principles for access and benefit-sharing while fostering biodiversity conservation, equitable collaboration, and sustainable innovation.
Source: Sustainable Microbiology
Authors: Davide Faggionato, Melania Muñoz-García, Tanja Kostic, Mariana L Ferrari, Pascale Vonaesch, Mathilde Poyet, Perrine Portier, Matthew J Ryan, Djamila Djeddour, Cornelia Stumptner, Giovanna Cristina Varese, Aurora Zuzuarregui, Mathieu Groussin, Michael Schloter, Robert D Finn, Aylin S Haas, Ian Probert, Gerard Verkley, Jörg Overmann, Amber H Scholz
Institutions: Leibniz Institute DSMZ – German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, University of Lausanne, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Institut de Recherche en Horticulture et Semences, L'Institut Agro, Université d'Angers, CAB International, Medical University of Graz, University of Turin, Universitat de València, Parc Científic de la Universitat de València, Helmholtz Munich, European Bioinformatics Institute, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Sorbonne Université, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute
Language: English
Subfield: Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,901
Funders: California Department of Fish and Game, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, European Commission, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme, H2020 European Research Council, NextGenerationEU
Awards: European Viral Outbreak Response Alliance, G165400314, Strain-level adaptation as a risk and opportunity for nutrition-related disorders (NutAdapt), MICRObiome Biobanking (RI) Enabler, G564174955, SFB 1182: Entstehen und Funktionieren von Metaorganismen, G6796458524, G7130079164, G7273217118, G7314894340, G7667688360, NCCR Microbiomes: Microbial communities in health and environment, G8329042570, Microbial services addressing climate change risks for biodiversity and for agricultural and forestry ecosystems: enabling curiosity-driven research and advancing frontier knowledge
OpenAlex ID: W7130444516