1. Meeting Working Groups “Genetic Resources & Breeding” Vleva Brussels
October 25-26, 2016

2. WG « Genetic Resources & Breeding »
Activities during 2016
Acquisition of information about WG members and definition of WG scope
Slides revised
MeWe group established
Posting of EU documents on MeWe group
Participation to SIRA revision (v2016 )
Discussion of activities conducted during 2016

3. WG composition
Temporary animator: Teodoro Cardi, CREA (Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Vegetable Crops), Italy,
WG Participants (August 3, 2016): 51
Single participation: 24
Combined w/ other WG:
Greenhouse Crops: 9
Fertilization & Irrigation: 10
Integrated Pest
Management: 11
Quality: 13
Participants’ country

4. (based on responses to the questionnaire)
WG composition
(based on responses to the questionnaire)
29 responses

5. (based on responses to the questionnaire) (cont.d)
WG composition
(based on responses to the questionnaire) (cont.d)

6. Objectives (general)
To create a discussion forum for EU and associated countries researchers involved in collection, characterization, valorization and breeding of vegetable genetic resources
To facilitate discussion, interaction, exchange of information and materials, and collaboration between researchers
To facilitate formation of consortia for submissions of EU and other international collaborative projects
To participate in agenda setting of future EU research programs.

7. Objectives (specific)
To preserve and valorize local genetic resources / minor crops with regional economic importance
To collect and manage phenotypic data in different environments / Set up of a network of locations for trials
To identify major traits to consider for breeding: pest resistance, quality, plant-microrganism interactions (+ & -), resilience for climate changes
To enhance development and implementation of enabling technologies and genetic materials in pre-breeding and breeding of a wider range of crops (e.g. haploid production protocols, embryo rescue, mapping populations, molecular markers, etc.)
Contribute to the discussion on the use of NPBT (New Plant Breeding Techniques) in vegetable breeding and their impact on S&M seed companies and vegetable growers.

8. Issues to be addressed
Increase of environmental and economic sustainability of horticulture through genetic approaches
Characterization of local genetic resources (landraces) and wild relative accessions of vegetable crops of interest for main agronomic traits (quality, stress resistance, ...)
Development of accessible and informative catalogues of vegetable genetic resources characterized at the phenotypic and genotypic level
Identification, characterization and valorization of vegetable genetic resources to be (re)introduced in cultivation
Identification of specific targets to be improved aiming to different cultivation systems (Organic, Protected culture, etc.) / Breeding of new cultivars for such systems
Development of genetic tools (populations, markers, in vitro protocols) for local (minor) crops / genotypes
Targeted genetic improvement of specific traits in local (minor) crops / genotypes
Breeding of rootstocks for main european vegetable crops
Development of participative breeding schemes with farmers
Development of novel breeding approaches

9. MeWe Group Established in July Present members: 37
Documents posted: 15
Information about WG members (replies to the questionnaire)
Updated slides
Agenda meeting October
EU document “SC2. Strategic Programming GAP ANALYSIS”
EU document “HORIZON 2020 SOCIETAL CHALLENGE 2 STAKEHOLDERS’ CONSULTATION 2016”
EU document “A strategic approach to EU agricultural research & innovation”
EU document “REPORT on the future of Europe’s horticulture sector – strategies for growth (2013/2100(INI))”
SIRA (v and following)
H2020 Projects Societal Challenges Food

10. MeWe Group ISSUES TO BE SOLVED How to get more effective interaction
POSSIBILITIES
Would changing the media change the interaction
If we change we should do it now
Data policy of google. Googles uses the data you put on their systems

11. SIRA
7 IDENTIFICATION OF INNOVATION AND RESEARCH NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE GLOBAL CHALLENGES
7.1 PARTICULARITIES OF THE CHAIN
the needs for innovation and research have been identified and separated by different parts of the chain: Input Suppliers and Production, Handling and Storage, Distribution and Consumers.

12. SIRA 7.2 RESEARCH NEEDS FOR INPUT SUPPLIERS AND PRODUCTION
Issues to meet:
consumers demands for varied, high quality and nutritious fresh produce, with negligible amounts of plant protection products or contaminants
citizens’ increasing demands for food production with minimal negative environmental impacts. The latter must be done within an environmental framework of limited or reduced supplies of fundamental resources e.g. water, and societal pressure to reduce external inputs of nutrients and energy.
further sustainable intensification and advancement of modern fruit and vegetable production will come from sound science-based developments that specifically address environmental, social and economic (i.e. sustainability) issues of current production systems.

13. SIRA
Figure 10 Research areas in fruit and vegetable sector are interconnected. Field production systems cover the largest areas and still are the basis of the sector. Greenhouse production systems, however, are expanding continuously and are technologically more developed. Sustainable intensification research is needed for both.

14. SIRA 7.2.1 GENETIC RESOURCES AND THEIR UTILIZATION
Context issues
Narrow genetic base for the main fruit and vegetables varieties
underexploited genetic resources.
Climate changes
threat to the diversity of cultivated crops, contributing to genetic erosion
new pests and diseases
increased environmental constraints linked to water availability and quality, salinity and high temperatures
impact of biotic and abiotic stresses on productivity and quality
breeding of varieties with improved adaptability, resilience and tolerance/resistance
introduction of new vegetable varieties or species, requiring the acquisition of new genomic information and the development of new breeding activities.
Robotic automation to reduce costs
varieties with characteristics adapted to the automated chain should be developed
Environmental sustainability
development of cultivars capable of maintaining yield and quality standards in low input conditions and with reduced energy, allowing further expansion of cultivation areas.
High diversification of markets and consumers’ needs
many quality targets have to be taken in account, prompting the development of varieties with highly specific characteristics.

15. SIRA
(Some ) constraints for varietal innovation
the reproduction system
the scarce information on the genetic basis of important agronomic traits
the low efficiency of phenotypic selection
the long juvenile period and long growth cycle (especially in fruit crops).
Innovative breeding methodologies could speed-up the development process for releasing improved varieties
Research topics identified
1. New genetic resources for species with a narrow genetic base
2. New or traditional genetic resources for sub-optimal conditions
3. New genetic resources for specific needs of the value chain
4. New breeding techniques
5. New genomic information and tools

16. Research topics proposed
SIRA
Research topics proposed

17. Election Steering Committee
Teodoro Cardi, Italy
Ferdinando Branca, Italy
Céline Hamon, France
Carlos Herrero-Sanchez, Spain
Jaroslava Ovesná, Czech R.
Peter Glen Walley, UK

18. Define/confirm WG topics to work on
Overview of techniques used by Euvrin members for breeding of different species, related to pollination. Share protocols for evaluations of varieties, genetic material
Create database of research people and expertise
Update/monitor calls and spread to WG members
Promote breeding activities and spread document showing importance of breeding with examples.
Organise workshop e.g. spring school instead of summer school. Next working group meeting. Could be in Italy. Half day meeting and half day working groups
Networking with farmers associations, scientific associations before lobbying for research calls. Interact with EPSO (joint meeting). European platform for breeding techniques (legislation, universities and private companies are using to create new breeding lines, paid participation)
Ask members which traits, breeding target are being bred for e.g. content, etc.
Ask other working groups for key traits that need to be bred for
Evaluation of varieties, phenotyping related to region. Organised by crop, species, subgroups?
Breeding for minor crops or specific regions, do we have genetic basis, what is available

19. EU calls Relevant EU-calls and actions to be taken
Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2016 – 2017
SFS : Solutions to multiple and combined stresses in crop production
SFS : Teaming up for good: Exploiting the benefits of species diversity in cropping systems
SFS : Testing and breeding for sustainability and resilience in crops
SFS : New partnerships and tools to enhance European capacities for in-situ conservation
SFS : Organic breeding – Increasing the competitiveness of the organic breeding and farming sectors
Submit a COST proposal on topics relevant to the WG interests (next call September 2017)