Sapio Sciences, a lab informatics platform with a focus on scientific applications, has recently announced its collaboration with NatureMetrics, a nature intelligence technology company operating in the EMEA region.
NatureMetrics has chosen to adopt Sapio’s platform to enhance their eDNA surveys and sequencing capabilities for the purpose of biodiversity identification and exploration.
Sapio’s platform offers a comprehensive solution by integrating various lab informatics components, including a laboratory information management system (LIMS), an electronic laboratory notebook (ELN), and a scientific data management solution.
NatureMetrics uses the potential of eDNA biomonitoring to facilitate swift monitoring of animal species in different environments. This enables organizations worldwide to make well-informed decisions that benefit both their business and the natural world.
NatureMetrics employs user-friendly aquatic sample kits and sequencing techniques to isolate trace DNA present in water, ensuring simplicity, speed, and high data accuracy. By leveraging the Sapio informatics platform, NatureMetrics streamlines and customizes its proprietary next-generation sequencing (NGS) workflows, eliminating bottlenecks associated with sequencing and data management. As a result, they can efficiently process the vast amount of data generated.
NatureMetrics COO Juliet Jones said: “The landmark agreement made at COP15 set global targets for 2030, including effectively conserving and managing at least 30% of the world’s lands, inland waters, coastal areas, and oceans. NatureMetrics exists to help organizations take action to meet these goals, turning nature into data and insights, by adopting the latest innovations in eDNA technology.
“We didn’t want to bend our processes to fit a LIMS or ELN; rather it should work the way we do. After an extensive market search, the openness and flexibility of the Sapio solution impressed us. Sapio’s no-code system will enable us to define standard processes and, importantly, make changes as our needs evolve.”
NatureMetrics has revolutionised biomonitoring by making it accessible to a wider audience through their provision of eDNA sampling kits. These kits enable the detection of single or multiple species, ranging from microorganisms to mammals, all within a single sample. By sequencing the DNA extracted from just one liter of water, NatureMetrics can unveil the presence of countless organisms, offering a significant time and cost advantage over traditional methods.
The company’s innovative technology has played a crucial role in supporting biomonitoring initiatives worldwide. From mining projects in West Africa to conservation efforts in the Amazon rainforest, and even large-scale infrastructure projects like the UK’s high-speed rail line, HS2, NatureMetrics has contributed to diverse projects across the globe.
By leveraging their advanced eDNA sampling kits and sequencing techniques, these initiatives have been able to gather vital ecological data efficiently and effectively.
Sapio Sciences EMEA general manager Andrew Wyatt said: “It’s exciting to partner with NatureMetrics, a company that brings such a unique and important application of eDNA sequencing technology to protect and manage the environment.
“Sapio has recently expanded its team into the European region and is honoured to support NatureMetrics on such a critical mission by providing our open, configurable, unified lab platform, with templated NGS workflows, that will quickly adapt and evolve as their business scales.”
In a groundbreaking development, NatureMetrics has introduced the world’s inaugural nature performance monitoring service, leveraging the capabilities of eDNA technology. This pioneering service empowers business decision-makers worldwide with meaningful and reliable nature insights. By offering a subscription-based model, NatureMetrics ensures continuous and scalable monitoring of nature’s impact, enabling standardized performance measurement of natural ecosystems—a feat previously unattainable due to the intricate complexities of the natural world.
With this innovative service, organisations gain access to a comprehensive toolset that enables them to assess and evaluate the performance of natural systems. By leveraging the power of eDNA technology, NatureMetrics delivers robust and accurate data, providing decision-makers with valuable information to guide their business strategies. This service represents a significant advancement, bridging the gap between businesses and the natural environment, and facilitating a more comprehensive understanding of the impact and value of ecosystems.
