NCYC
Introduction
The National Collection of Yeast Cultures (NCYC), a commercial division of QIB Extra, is a globally recognised biological resource centre based at the Quadram Institute Bioscience on the Norwich Research Park. Established in 1948, when British brewers sought to safeguard their valuable yeast strains, NCYC has since evolved into a leading provider of yeast-related services for a broad customer base, including the brewing, baking, biotechnology, and academic sectors.
With a collection of over 4,400 non-pathogenic yeast strains—including traditional species like Saccharomyces cerevisiae—NCYC offers advanced preservation techniques such as cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen and freeze-drying to ensure genetic stability and long-term viability. Their services include yeast identification via DNA sequencing, strain authentication, and secure storage.
NCYC’s expertise is pivotal for organisations seeking to safeguard microbial assets, ensure product consistency, enhance fermentation performance, or innovate within the life sciences and industrial biotechnology sectors.
Services
As a specialist division of QIB Extra, the National Collection of Yeast Cultures (NCYC) provides expert services in yeast identification, preservation, and strain authentication. With a history spanning over 75 years, NCYC supports global research and industry with one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of non-pathogenic yeasts. Their expertise is pivotal for industries such as brewing, baking, biotechnology, and academic research.
Strain Deposit Services
Open Collection
Yeast strains cited in scientific literature or involved in standardised testing can be deposited publicly at no charge. These strains are made available to the wider scientific community.
Patent Deposit (IDA)
NCYC is recognised as an International Depository Authority under the Budapest Treaty, enabling the secure deposit of yeast strains (excluding known pathogens) for patent purposes.
Confidential Safe Deposit
Proprietary strains can be securely deposited under confidentiality, with release restricted to the depositor’s written instructions. This service also supports authenticity verification for production strains.
NCYC offers a full range of yeast identification capabilities:
- Chemotaxonomic analysis for detailed physiological profiling
- DNA sequencing for rapid and accurate species identification
- DNA fingerprinting of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, enabling authentication by comparing repeat genomic sequences—particularly valuable for verifying manufacturing cultures against reference deposits.
As part of its specialist offering, the National Collection of Yeast Cultures (NCYC) provides ISO 9001-accredited consultancy and contract research services to industry and research partners. All work is carried out on a strictly confidential basis, with flexible models ranging from short-term technical projects to long-term research collaborations.
NCYC offers extensive expertise in the identification, characterisation, and screening of yeasts, including discovery and evaluation of strains with attributes of commercial or scientific value. These services are particularly relevant for organisations seeking novel strains for fermentation, bio-production, or functional applications.
Services to Brewers
The National Collection of Yeast Cultures (NCYC) offers a dedicated range of services for brewers, supported by an extensive archive of several hundred brewing strains. These services are designed to maintain yeast quality, support consistency in production, and protect proprietary strains.
Popular services include:
- Strain Propagation – Bulk Yeast Supply: High-quality brewing strains grown to order and supplied in bulk for fermentation and in-house propagation.
- Yeast Bank – Strain Safe Deposit: Secure, confidential storage of proprietary strains, ensuring long-term preservation and peace of mind.
- Quality Control, Identification & Strain Authentication: Verification of yeast purity and performance using DNA-based and phenotypic analysis to detect contamination or drift.
- S. cerevisiae var. diastaticus PCR Detection: Rapid and sensitive molecular screening for diastaticus contamination, helping prevent over-attenuation and spoilage.
- Regular Strain Supply to Breweries: Routine delivery of verified yeast cultures for internal propagation and production use.
NCYC’s specialist brewing services help ensure yeast reliability, protect brand consistency, and support innovation within the brewing industry.
Contact
For more information on the NCYC Safe Deposit service or any other business requirement, please visit the
NCYC website, or get in touch directly via their
contact page.