Reference collections aim to sample and document the variability and geographic range of target species of interest and make preserved specimens available for basic and applied research. The activities developed involve the curation, enrichment, maintenance, documentation and public availability of the collection for in-person consultations, loan requests or online access. At Embrapa, the reference collections mainly support research on genetic and natural resources and have the primary mission of documenting the memory and promoting the present and future use of the specimens for research activities focused on agriculture, livestock and bioindustry. In this project, Embrapa's reference collections are organized into three solutions for innovation: zoological collections; plant extracts library; and herbaria, totaling 16 activities. These collections comprise a unique set of global importance. They cover native species from the six continental Brazilian biomes, in addition to exotic species whose introduction and cultivation is relevant for the country, or even invasive species important for monitoring and sanitary defense. In total, Embrapa's reference collections have more than 450,000 biological samples available for research and innovation and the search for solutions and provision of services in favor of agriculture, livestock and the Brazilian bioeconomy.