Microalgae seed bank has the function of storing varieties and species of microalgae from fresh water to salt water in different ecological regions throughout the country. Currently, a number of research units such as the Aquaculture Research Institute (I, II, III), the Seafood Research Institute, and the Institute of Biotechnology (VAST) all have microalgae research groups but mainly focus on microalgae. middle-class keeps some strains of microalgae seed for aquaculture, but so far there is no official microalgae gene bank. Microalgae gene banks are not only a place to store microalgae seed strains, but also provide starting materials for propagation, multiplication of biomass and for breeding new varieties.
Recognizing the importance and urgency of building microalgae genetic resources, since 2012, Vietnam National Academy of Agriculture has promoted the construction of the Center for Research and Development of Microalgae Biotechnology/IRDM, in which focuses on building microalgae seed banks including freshwater and surface water microalgae. So far, the Academy is hosting more than 100 different species of microalgae. The initial goal and plan is to provide microalgae genetic resources to capture biomass as functional foods for humans and livestock such as Arthrospira and Chlorella. As for spirulina Arthrospira, the Academy currently holds 30 strains of indigenous and imported origin. Then, the diatoms used for aquaculture with dozens of species belonging to the genera Chaetoceros, Skeletonema, Thalassiosira, Nitzchia, Phaeodactylum, Haptophytes such as Isochrysis; many freshwater and saltwater green algae such as Tetraselmis, Dunaliella, Nannochloropsis, Haematococcus, Scenedemus; several species of the genus Cryptomonas and many other genera of algae. In addition, the Academy of Agriculture maintains a collection of more than 30 species of freshwater cyanobacteria.
With the diversity of genetic resources of microalgae strains belonging to the phylum Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta, Haptophyta, Stramenopiles, Dinophyta, cyanobacteria, Vietnam National Academy of Agriculture can provide genetic resources for research units, aquaculture. The Vietnam Academy of Agriculture is also the first unit to develop and put Spirulina (Arthrospira) plantensis VNUA03 in the list of microalgae species recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture.