Scientists Build Global “Microbial Noah’s Ark”

Deep in cryogenic freezers at the University of Zurich, thousands of microscopic organisms wait in suspended animation.

They’re part of humanity’s first attempt to preserve the planet’s vanishing microbiome—the invisible communities of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that keep our bodies, food systems, and ecosystems healthy. Now, the scientists behind this “microbial Noah’s Ark” have announced ethical guidelines to govern what could become one of conservation’s most ambitious projects.

The Microbiota Vault Initiative, led by Rutgers University researchers, has collected over 2,000 samples from 32 countries during its pilot phase. But this is just the beginning of a century-long mission to safeguard microbial diversity before human activities drive beneficial microbes to extinction.

An Invisible Crisis

“The microbiome is under big threat, a threat that is in many ways analogous to climate change,” explained Martin Blaser, a board member of the initiative and director of Rutgers’ Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine. “Human activities are depleting our microbiome, and there’s lots of evidence of that.”

The threats are everywhere. Antibiotic overuse strips away protective gut bacteria. Industrial agriculture destroys soil microbes that help plants absorb nutrients. Food preservatives eliminate beneficial bacteria from fermented foods. Even cesarean births and formula feeding can reduce the microbial diversity that newborns inherit.

The consequences ripple through human health and planetary systems. Reduced gut microbe diversity correlates with increased allergies, autoimmune diseases, and metabolic disorders. Damaged soil microbiomes contribute to crop failures. Environmental microbes in Arctic permafrost normally regulate greenhouse gas emissions—but climate change threatens their stability.

Building the Vault

Inspired by Norway’s Svalbard Seed Vault, the initiative has grown from a handful of researchers to over 100 scientists worldwide. The current phase aims to expand collections to 10,000 samples by 2029, with plans for a permanent storage facility in a cold climate location.

Key accomplishments and next steps include:

• More than 2,000 fecal and fermented food samples collected globally
• Temporary storage at -80°C in Switzerland’s cryogenic facilities
• Expansion target of 10,000 samples by 2029
• Government funding sought beyond current philanthropic support
• Permanent vault sites under consideration in Switzerland and Canada

Ethical Ownership

The initiative’s new ethical framework addresses a thorny question: who owns the microbes living inside us? The guidelines establish “depositor sovereignty,” ensuring that original sample collectors retain ownership and control. Benefits from any future applications must be shared equitably, with special protections for indigenous communities.

“We are absolutely committed to developing the Microbiota Vault in a way that maximizes equity around the world,” stated Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello, the initiative’s president and Distinguished Professor at Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences.

The approach contrasts with historical biopiracy, where valuable biological resources were extracted from developing nations without compensation or consent.

Future Applications

Current technology can’t yet restore complex microbial communities, but researchers envision eventual applications in medicine, agriculture, and ecosystem restoration. The preserved microbes might one day treat diseases, improve crop yields, or repair damaged environments.

“We believe that one day the science will improve sufficiently so that we will have really good restorative techniques,” Blaser reflected. “But if it is too late, and key members of the microbiome are gone, like the dodo bird, we can’t restore them, unless we have them safely stored away.”

The timing coincides with World Microbiome Day on June 27, highlighting growing recognition that our invisible microbial partners may be as critical to preserve as charismatic megafauna. After all, you can’t see them—but you can’t live without them.