The Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure – European Research Infrastructure Consortium (MIRRI-ERIC) is the pan-European distributed Research Infrastructure for the preservation, systematic investigation, provision and valorisation of microbial resources and biodiversity. Since 2024, it has six members (Belgium, France, Greece, Latvia, Portugal and Spain) and one observer (Romania).
MIRRI has integrated the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) Roadmap since 2010 and, in 2021, has become a ‘Landmark’ in its Health & Food domain. MIRRI-ERIC has been set up by the Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/1204 of 16 June 2022.
The mission of MIRRI-ERIC is to serve Bioscience and Bioindustry users by facilitating access to a broad range of high-quality bioresources and data in a legal compliant way. By offering access to human expertise and providing a collaborative platform for long-term sustainability of microbial biodiversity, MIRRI will increase knowledge and promote professional development.
MIRRI offers its users a single point of access to about 160,000+ high-quality microbial resources, an ever-growing number made available by its 50+ partner biorepositories, covering all types of microorganisms, such as bacteria (and their cognate bacteriophages), archaea, fungi (including yeasts), eukaryotic viruses, micro-algae and other microbiological material such as cell lines, natural or constructs carrying plasmids, DNA libraries, and genomic DNA. The MIRRI Information System will also provide users with all relevant information and associated contextual data (metadata) about the microbial resources, as available – e.g. taxonomy, ecology, pathogenicity, morphology, physiology, chemical characterization, DNA barcoding or genomics.
From strains producing antimicrobials or other bioactive compounds and enzymes for the pharmaceutical industry, to others that can be used in the production of healthier food and feed products (including ingredients), upgrading residues, processing side-streams and organic wastes, in the biological management of agricultural soils and crops, in the bioremediation of polluted sites or contaminated effluents, or in the production of renewable, biobased chemicals, materials and fuels, to mention a few examples, MIRRI is very likely to hold microbial resources matching every demand from bioresearchers and bioindustries in the sectors of Health & Food, Agro-Food, and Environment & Energy.
MIRRI-ERIC’s offer of microbial resources can be consulted in its catalog of microbial resources accessible at https://www.mirri.org/microbial-resources-data/.