EMP

The Earth Microbiome Project (EMP) is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at mapping the vast microbial diversity of our planet for the benefit of humanity and the environment. Established in 2010, the EMP operates as a collaborative network of over 500 researchers who work together to analyze microbial communities through advanced techniques such as DNA sequencing and mass spectrometry. By crowd-sourcing samples from researchers worldwide, the project seeks to gain insights into microbial ecology across diverse biomes, ultimately compiling a global Gene Atlas and metabolic models tailored for each ecosystem.

The EMP is a prime example of open science, facilitating pre-publication data sharing and robust ecological trend analysis. Although the project is currently not accepting new samples, it offers public access to extensive datasets and established protocols for data analysis. The EMP continues to evolve, with ongoing support from various foundations and partnerships that help propel its mission to enhance our understanding of Earth's microbial life.