The initiative aims to collect, sequence, and cryopreserve living cells, reproductive tissues, and genomic material from more than 2,300 species. By integrating these biological samples into the company’s existing BioVault network, the project serves as a modern-day genetic backup, providing scientists with the necessary tools for population management, assisted reproduction, and potential future restoration. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum emphasized that the collaboration combines private sector ingenuity with federal scientific expertise to address the growing crisis of biodiversity loss.

Colossal CEO Ben Lamm described the project as a library of evolutionary innovation, noting that once a species vanishes, its unique biological data is lost forever. Beyond physical storage, the partnership commits to making the resulting genomic data available through open-access repositories at no cost. This infrastructure is intended to bypass proprietary barriers, allowing researchers and wildlife managers worldwide to utilize reference genomes and population-level data. While the Memorandum of Understanding outlines a framework for this ambitious effort, it does not currently obligate the expenditure of federal funds, with specific project details to be determined by future agreements.