African Centre for DNA Barcoding

What African Centre for DNA Barcoding does

The African Centre for DNA Barcoding (ACDB) is an academic research center established in 2011 by Prof. Michelle van der Bank and operating within the Department of Botany at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa. Since January 2025, the center has been directed by Prof. Kowiyou Yessoufou. ACDB identifies and catalogs biodiversity using DNA barcoding techniques, hosting state-of-the-art equipment for DNA sequencing and molecular taxonomy, and maintaining a DNA bank that documents African flora, fauna, and macro-fungi. Its research applies phylogenetic tools, modern statistics, and artificial intelligence to extinction risk assessment, biological invasion analysis, and population dynamics modeling for threatened African species.

ACDB's core products are DNA sequencing services rendered to universities, governments, and organizations at affordable costs; a DNA bank serving as a reference repository for African biodiversity; an academic training pipeline covering Honours, MSc, and PhD students in Conservation Biology; and a portfolio of three short courses covering biodiversity risk assessment, alien invasion risk assessment, and DNA barcoding for species identification, plus advanced data analysis training in R. Revenue mechanics are professional services-based and fee-for-service, with no public pricing disclosed. Distribution is direct-to-institution with a domestic South African geographic footprint, supplemented by an international research network spanning the University of British Columbia, the University of Tennessee, Guelph University, and the University of Parakou in Benin.

The center's customer base is segmented into Universities and Research Institutions, Government Agencies, and Graduate Students. Marketing and visibility rely primarily on peer-reviewed publications, conference participation (notably the SAAB Annual Conference), a seminar series, and organic social channels. The commercial scale is small — 11–50 employees — and no funding rounds, M&A activity, or commercial pricing data are disclosed in the source material, indicating an academic-service operating model rather than a venture-scale commercial one.

Name

African Centre for DNA Barcoding

Legal name

African Centre for DNA Barcoding

Website

https://acdb.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

African Centre for DNA Barcoding is an academic research center at the University of Johannesburg providing DNA sequencing services, a DNA bank of African biodiversity, and graduate and short-course training in Conservation Biology for universities, government agencies, and researchers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biodiversity Research and DNA Sequencing Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Molecular Biology & Genomics Instruments (PCR/qPCR, Sequencing, Microarrays) (HLAGAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sample / Biorepository & Biobank Informatics (Chain-of-Custody) (HLAGAJAH)

Keywords

• DNA sequencing services
• Biodiversity research
• Molecular taxonomy
• Conservation biology training
• DNA barcoding

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. DNA Sequencing Services: Generating DNA sequences for institutions or individuals at affordable costs
2. Training Services: Training academic/researchers/professionals in molecular techniques and applications for biodiversity conservation, as well as advanced data analysis
3. Short Courses: Three short courses offered: biodiversity risk assessment, alien invasion risk assessment, and DNA barcoding for species identification

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ACDB generates DNA sequences for external institutions, universities, governments, and organizations at affordable costs using state-of-the-art equipment for molecular taxonomy and biodiversity assessment. It also trains Honours, MSc, and PhD students in Conservation Biology through the University of Johannesburg, and delivers structured short courses in biodiversity risk assessment, alien invasion risk assessment, and DNA barcoding for species identification. A growing DNA Bank documents African flora, fauna, and macro-fungi as a reference resource for conservation research.

Product overview

The African Centre for DNA Barcoding (ACDB) operates as an academic research center within the University of Johannesburg, offering a unified portfolio of services focused on DNA barcoding and biodiversity research. The core offerings include DNA sequencing services for external institutions, a DNA Bank documenting African biodiversity, and structured academic training programs from Honours to PhD levels. The short course portfolio provides specialized training in biodiversity risk assessment, alien invasion risk assessment, DNA barcoding for species identification, molecular techniques, and advanced data analysis using R. Phylogenetic tools serve as the common denominator across all services and training, with AI and modern statistics increasingly applied to extinction risk assessment and biodiversity monitoring.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DNA Sequencing Services Generation of DNA sequences for external institutions, universities, governments, and organizations at affordable costs, using state-of-the-art equipment for DNA sequencing and molecular taxonomy to accelerate biodiversity assessment and evolutionary studies.
• DNA Bank Repository documenting African flora, fauna, and macro-fungi in the form of DNA sequences, supporting conservation and biodiversity research as a reference resource.
• DNA Barcoding for Species Identification (Short Course) Short course training on DNA barcoding techniques for species identification, offered to academic researchers, professionals, and institutions.
• Biodiversity Risk Assessment (Short Course) Short course training on assessing biodiversity risks, covering modern statistics and AI approaches to extinction risk assessment and analysis of impacts on the tree of life.
• Alien Invasion Risk Assessment (Short Course) Short course focused on accelerating knowledge on biological invasion to inform control and management strategies and policies in Africa.
• Molecular Techniques Training Training academic researchers and professionals in molecular techniques and applications for biodiversity conservation, delivered as part of ACDB's services and short courses portfolio.
• Advanced Data Analysis Training Training in advanced data analysis methods, including R for quantitative and phylogenetic data analysis, delivered as part of ACDB's services and short courses portfolio.
• Academic Training in Conservation Biology (Honours to PhD) Academic research training from Honours through MSc to PhD level in Conservation Biology, with focus on Plant Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation, delivered through the University of Johannesburg.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of the British ColumbiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProf. Jonathan Davies, Distinguished Professor from UBC, serves as a research associate and regularly conducts workshops at ACDB. In 2026, he facilitated a workshop on phylogenetic diversity, evolutionary metrics including ED, AED, EDGE/EDGE2 using fair proportion and equal split methods.
• University of TennesseecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProf. Orou Gaoue serves as a research associate and co-supervises PhD students including Ms. Patience Mamathaba who is working on mathematical modelling of population dynamics of Securidaca longepedunculata.
• Guelph UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Ross Stewart from Guelph University serves as a research associate and collaborates on publications including research on flowering phenology across South Africa.
• University of ParakouminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProf. Nourou Souleymane Yorou from University of Parakou, Benin serves as a research associate, contributing to the center's international research network.
• Tropical Biology AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTBA field course at Makerere University Biological Field Centre in Kibale Forest National Park, Uganda. Ms. Nonjabulo Macu was selected to attend the month-long field course providing training in forest ecology, conservation, plant-animal interactions, and field research techniques.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI): SANBI is the South African statutory body coordinating biodiversity research, policy, and monitoring nationally. It is a regional peer operating in the same South African conservation and biodiversity science ecosystem as ACDB, with overlapping government customers and research mandate.

Others

• International Barcode of Life (iBOL): iBOL is the international research consortium coordinating DNA barcoding efforts globally and the parent initiative of BOLD Systems. ACDB participates in this consortium through its DNA bank contributions, making iBOL an enabling/ecosystem peer rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• CABI: CABI is an intergovernmental organization providing scientific expertise in agriculture and the environment, with capabilities in invasive species management and biodiversity. Its alien species and biodiversity work overlaps with ACDB's alien invasion risk assessment short course focus.
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Kew is a globally established botanical and biodiversity research institution with substantial DNA sequencing capability and plant biodiversity databases. It is a broad incumbent with overlapping scientific mission in plant diversity, phylogenetics, and global biodiversity informatics.

Direct peers

• Bold Systems (Barcode of Life Data Systems): BOLD is the global open-access DNA barcode reference library used by all barcoding researchers. ACDB contributes African sequences to BOLD and uses it as a core research platform, making it a fundamental infrastructure peer rather than a direct service competitor.
• NatureMetrics: NatureMetrics is a commercial DNA barcoding and eDNA monitoring company serving biodiversity, conservation, and environmental impact assessment markets globally. It competes directly with ACDB for sequencing service revenue but at industrial scale and with a customer base outside academia.
• Centre for Biodiversity Genomics (University of Guelph): The University of Guelph's Centre for Biodiversity Genomics is the leading global academic DNA barcoding center and houses BOLD Systems, the global barcode database. It is a direct peer with the same core mission (DNA barcoding, biodiversity genomics, training) and is already an ACDB partner through Dr. Ross Stewart.

Emerging players

• Wilderlab: Wilderlab is a New Zealand-based commercial environmental DNA (eDNA) service provider specializing in biodiversity monitoring for government and conservation clients. Comparable commercial DNA-based biodiversity service model, though focused on the New Zealand/Australia region.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/acdblab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about African Centre for DNA Barcoding