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DIVINFOOD
Co-cons uc ing in e ac i e sho and mid- ie ood chains o alue ag obiodi e si y in
heal hy plan -based ood
Deli e able D4.4
Guidelines o implemen no el b eeding
echniques and app oaches
Due da e o deli e able: M42
Ac ual submission da e: M42
S a da e o he p ojec : Ma ch 1s , 2022 Du a ion: 60 mon hs
O ganisa ion name o lead con ac o : Resea ch Ins i u e o O ganic
Ag icul u e FiBL
Re ision: V4
Dissemina ion le el
Public – PU X
Con iden ial, only o membe s o he conso ium (including Commission
Se ices) – CO
Classi ied, as e e ed o in Commission Decision 2001/844/EC - Cl
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Me ada a
CALL
H2020-SFS-2020-2
Topic
SFS-01-2018-2019-2020 - Biodi e si y in ac ion: ac oss a mland
and he alue chain
P ojec ID
101000383
P ojec websi e
www.DIVINFOOD.eu
Documen ype
Deli e able
Ti le
Deli e able D4.4 - Guidelines o implemen no el b eeding
echniques and app oaches
Au ho (s)
Ma ia e esa Lazza o (FiBL), Ve ena Simon-Ku sche (FiBL)
Da e o c ea ion
29.08.2025
Ve sion numbe
V4
In e nal e iewe s
F ancesca Galli (UniPi), Dalia Ma ioni (UniPi), Yuna Chi oleau
(INRAE), Vincen T oilla d (INRAE)
Keywo ds
seed p oduc ion, cul i a es ing, b eeding, molecula b eeding,
pa icipa o y b eeding, mul i-ac o in ol emen , Neglec ed and
Unde u ilised C ops (NUCs), social inno a ion
Dissemina ion le el
Public
To ci e his documen :
Lazza o M, Simon-Ku sche V, 2025. Deli e able D4.4 - Guidelines o implemen no el b eeding
echniques and app oaches. DIVINFOOD H2020 p ojec , epo , 36 p. 10.5281/zenodo.17008686
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Table o con en s
1. F om he need o seed di e si y o he oppo uni y o inno a e he b eeding sec o ... 5
2. Guidelines o os e ing NUCs no el b eeding echniques and app oaches ...................... 6
2.1. F om gene ic esou ces managemen o new cul i a de elopmen ................................. 9
2.2. Dynamic Managemen o Gene ic Resou ces ............................................................................ 12
2.3. Ac i e eedback om cul i a ion o conse a ion .................................................................. 13
2.4. Ensu ing Seed Quali y & A ailabili y ............................................................................................ 14
2.5. Fos e echnical inno a ion in NUCs b eeding ......................................................................... 15
2.6. Mo e b eeding o complex c opping sys ems ......................................................................... 16
2.7. B eeding o Di e si y ......................................................................................................................... 17
2.8. Align b eeding wi h he e hical alues o in ol ed s akeholde s ..................................... 17
2.9. P omo ing Access o Seeds ............................................................................................................... 18
2.10. Mul i-Ac o in ol emen .................................................................................................................... 19
2.11. Goals se ing in Mul i-Ac o B eeding .......................................................................................... 21
2.12. In ol emen o consume s and ci izens ...................................................................................... 25
3. Re e ences .............................................................................................................................................. 28
3. Appendixes ............................................................................................................................................. 29
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Execu i e summa y
The Deli e able 4.4 p esen s Guidelines ( ela ed o ma e ials, echniques, app oaches and
collabo a ions) o implemen no el b eeding echniques and app oaches in he Neglec ed and
Unde u ilised C ops (NUCs) seed and b eeding sec o . The ecommenda ions lis ed in his epo ha e
eme ged om he wo k o he DIVINFOOD Li ing Labs (LLs) wi h mino ce eals and legumes in a ious
egions o Eu ope. The a ge audience o his epo is s akeholde s, including b eede s, esea che s,
a me s and ne wo k acili a o s in e es ed in de eloping he seed and b eeding sec o o mino c ops
o open o explo e al e na i e pa hs in hei wo k in majo c ops. Al hough his epo is based on he
speci ic expe iences o he DIVINFOOD LLs on ad ancing cul i a ion and use o Neglec ed and
Unde u ilised C ops (NUCs), he guidelines p esen ed can se e as e lec ion poin s o any ne wo k
wo king on seeds wi h a speci ic in e es in he o e all sus ainabili y o he ood sys em.
Au ho s: Ma ia e esa Lazza o (FiBL) &Ve ena Simon-Ku sche (FiBL)
In e nal e iewe s: F ancesca Galli (UniPi), Dalia Ma ioni (UniPi), Yuna Chi oleau (INRAE), Vincen
T oilla d (INRAE)
Acknowledgemen s: All membe s o he DIVINFOOD LLs ha con ibu ed o he discussion on he seed
and b eeding aspec s o hei ne wo k.
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1. F om he need o seed di e si y o he
oppo uni y o inno a e he b eeding sec o
The cu en ag i- ood sys em in Eu ope is based high-inpu ag icul u e, elian on syn he ic e ilize s
and pes icides, wi h la ge scale use o monoc op and limi ed numbe o c ops in o a ion pe a m.
Ag icul u al biodi e si y has s ongly declined in he las cen u y, and i is s ill h ea ened because o
he indus ialisa ion and ma ke concen a ion in he ag icul u e and ood sec o . Cu en ly, only 150 o
200 o he 250,000 o 300,000 known c ops a e used by humans. Jus h ee majo c ops ( ice, maize and
whea ) p o ide nea ly 60 pe cen o he calo ies and p o eins humans ge om plan s. In his gene al
con ex , he mo e owa ds g ea e ag obiodi e si y on a ms aces a ious cons ain s, including a lack
o seeds and cul i a s o o he species, pa icula ly he neglec ed and unde u ilised c ops (NUCs).
The DIVINFOOD p ojec aims o inc ease he use o NUCs in Eu ope a all le els o he alue chain, om
consump ion and ood p oduc ion o a ming p ac ices, including seed p oduc ion and cul i a choice.
Howe e , his p ojec seizes he oppo uni y p esen ed by he lack o NUCs seeds, in e ms o bo h
quan i y and quali y, o p opose no el b eeding app oaches and echniques, con ibu ing no only o he
supply o seeds bu also o he ans o ma ion o he seed and b eeding sec o , so ha i akes g ea e
accoun o he mul iple challenges associa ed wi h sus ainabili y and o a la ge ange o s akeholde s
and expec a ions.
Figu e 1. DIVINFOOD “ om pla e o seed " app oach, in which NUCs a e alued, in each LL, ia in e -
connec ed alue chains om ood consump ion (o ange), along he alue chain (blue), including
b eeding, cul i a choice and seed p oduc ion (g een) (sou ce: au ho s)
Adop ing a " om pla e o seed " app oach (Figu e 1), which means de eloping alue chains ha
add ess he issue o seed a ailabili y and cul i a choice beyond he consump ion and cul i a ion
s ep, DIVINFOOD con ibu es o ad ance mino c ops seed p oduc ion, o expand cul i a choice and
boos new cul i a de elopmen (i.e. b eeding). The seed p oduc ion ac i i ies aim o p o ide a me s
wi h high quali y seeds o mino c ops o inclusion in en i onmen ally and economically aluable c op
p oduc ion. The cul i a selec ion and b eeding ac i i ies aim o iden i y and de elop mo e pe o ming
cul i a s o mino ce eals and legumes wi h local adap a ion, in aspeci ic biodi e si y, and ole ance o
bio ic and abio ic s ess, while also p omo ing nu i ious and as y ood.
DIVINFOOD Li ing Labs (LLs, Appendix I) explo e no el b eeding echniques and app oaches o
b ing inno a ion in he seed and b eeding sec o in Eu ope wi h ocus on mino c ops, and a
mo e gene al in en ion o inspi e change in app oach in his sec o in Eu ope.
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2. Guidelines o os e ing NUCs no el
b eeding echniques and app oaches
To inc ease cul i a ion and use o mino c ops, i is necessa y ha a me s can access an adequa e
quan i y and quali y o seeds, and ha adap ed cul i a s o di e en cul i a ion and consump ion
en i onmen s a e de eloped, conside ing en i onmen al and managemen di e si y, as well as
nu i ional and socio-cul u al aspec s.
Such a ask equi es a mul i ace ed app oach, add essing he key domains o echnical and social
inno a ion in b eeding, cul i a es ing and seed p oduc ion (Figu e 2), conside ing he linked aspec s
in he c op p oduc ion, ood p ocessing and consump ion domains o he ood sys em. In ac , hese
guidelines aim o suppo b eeding ini ia i es ha wan o deli e seeds sui able o ag oecology and
o ganic o ien ed a ming sys em and whose p oduce i s in heal hy and di e se die s. They a e inspi ed
by he DIVINFOOD Li ing Labs ac i i ies in building esilien cul i a s and quali y seeds o mino
c ops, as pa o hei wide aim o inc ease he sus ainabili y o :
(i) c op p oduc ion by p omo ing c op di e si ica ion and he applica ion o ag oecological p ac ices,
as well as acili a ing he deli e y o ecosys em se ices;
(ii) ood p ocessing and consump ion by p omo ing sho alue chains, mild p ocessing and he
p oduc ion o di e se, as y and nu i ious ood.
Figu e 2. Key aspec s o Seeds & B eeding sec o o conside when wo king wi h mino c ops o be
included in sus ainable a ming and ood p oduc ion and consump ion (sou ce: au ho s).
Fo mino c ops, access o adap ed cul i a s and seeds in sui able quan i ies and o app op ia e quali y
is o en a majo bo leneck o alue chain de elopmen . Seed & B eeding de elopmen goes hand in
hand wi h imp o ing a ming p ac ices, de eloping ood p oduc s and hei ma ke ing.
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When wo king wi hin neglec ed c ops, he speci ic cha ac e is ics o hese c ops compa ed wi h majo
s aple oods and commodi y ma ke c ops mus be ca e ully conside ed. O en one needs o apply
di e en s a egies compa ed o simila wo k wi h he majo c ops. Mino c ops may ha e speci ic
ag onomic and cul u al quali ies, such as isual appea ance, as e, and p ocessing p ope ies. These
quali ies mus be aken in o accoun o he choice o b eeding and selec ion echniques and app oaches.
Ye mino c ops a e also a playg ound o implemen a ion o no el b eeding echniques and app oaches
wi h po en ial o upscale in majo c ops as well.
We p esen gene al guidelines ela ed o b eeding, cul i a es ing and seed p oduc ion o mino c ops,
g ouped o he key aspec s o ma e ials, echniques, app oaches and collabo a ions (Figu e 2). The
lea nings and expe iences o DIVINFOOD LLs, bo h in e ms o echnical and social inno a ion, a e
summa ised o inspi e b eede s, esea che s and a me s who in end o wo k wi h mino c ops.
Ob iously, hese guidelines a e no exhaus i e o comple e and hey should be ead in con ex . They
should be e alua ed and conside ed in ela ion o he c op in ques ion, he a ge egion and he ele an
alue chain.
The ecommenda ions conside ha , when wo king on mino c op b eeding and seed p oduc ion, a i s
domain o decision-making e ol es a ound which MATERIALS o p io i ise. This in ol es, o example,
e alua ing whe he ini ia ing a dedica ed b eeding p og amme would be economically and s a egically
iable, o whe he dynamic managemen o exis ing gene ic esou ces would be e ec i e enough—
pa icula ly o c ops wi h e y limi ed comme cial po en ial, bu high local ele ance. I also in ol es
conside ing he oppo uni ies o wo k wi h land aces in adi ional g owing egions, depending on he
a ge ma ke . Simila ly, i in ol es deciding which ma e ials o es i s in new g owing egions, whe e
a NUC is no adi ionally used, once a NUC is o in e es o speci ic oppo uni ies.
A second issue o conside is which TECHNIQUES a e app op ia e o he aim o he p og am.
Le e aging molecula b eeding1 o NUCs imp o emen is s a egic, especially in he con ex o open
access da a amewo k, which allows exploi a ion o genomic esou ces (e.g. sequencing da a and DNA
ma ke s) by small scale and independen b eeding ini ia i es ha do no ha e own de elopmen
capaci y. Recen b eak h oughs in genomics, can be ins umen al in enhancing he gene ic po en ial o
mino c ops. When molecula da a a e made a ailable o e e yone in open access, his acili a es he
applica ion o ad anced b eeding s a egies and echnologies. Pheno yping me hodologies and
pla o ms speci ic o he ai s o in e es in mino c ops a e also undamen al and e y o en missing.
The hi d domain conce ns he APPROACHES o cul i a de elopmen , whe e decisions mus be
made, o example, be ween p oducing homogeneous a ie ies—o en p e e ed o yield po en ial and
s anda dized p ocessing—o he e ogeneous popula ions, which o e g ea e esilience and
adap abili y, especially aluable o mino c ops g own in di e se and challenging en i onmen s.
The ou h and equally i al domain is ela ed o who is be in ol ed, meaning he COLLABORATIONS
ac oss he alue chain. Fo neglec ed c ops, building a unc ional alue chain equen ly equi es mul i-
ac o collabo a ion, in eg a ing a me s, esea che s, p ocesso s, and consume s. Pa icipa o y
1 Molecula b eeding is he applica ion o molecula biology ools in cul i a de elopmen . He e we e e o ma ke -assis ed
selec ion (MAS), as a echnique ha u ilizes DNA ma ke s closely linked o pheno ypic ai s o enhance selec ion schemes o
speci ic b eeding objec i es. Molecula b eeding includes he iden i ica ion and cha ac e iza ion o gene ic ma ke s o imp o e
c op ai s and acili a e gene ic imp o emen .
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b eeding app oaches a e o en essen ial he e, as hey ensu e ha c op imp o emen aligns wi h local
needs while simul aneously os e ing he de elopmen o a suppo i e ecosys em a ound hese c ops.
Addi ionally, when looking a seed p oduc ion he inhe en ly low olume o p oduc ion o many NUCs
se e ely limi s he economic iabili y and applicabili y o con en ional business and echnological
app oaches wi hin he o mal seed ma ke . The e is a p essing need o imp o ed seed sec o (Figu e
3) capable o handling and dis ibu ing smalle quan i ies o seed while igo ously main aining seed
quali y. An in eg a ed app oach o NUCs, which s a egically suppo s and links bo h in o mal a me s’
seed ne wo ks and o mal seed sec o , is an oppo uni y o non-p o i and SMEs o ganisa ions.
Figu e 3. Rep esen a ion o a sus ainable seed sec o , based on he di e si y o hei ac o s and a
acili a ed lows o ge mplasm and knowledge amongs hem, in which he o mal and in o mal
domains a e equally alued and in e ac in a posi i e way (sou ce: DIVERSIFOOD p ojec Bookle 4).
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MATERIALS
2.1. F om gene ic esou ces managemen o new cul i a
de elopmen
An impo an decision o be made when wo king o p o ide sho alue chains wi h seeds and cul i a
choice o unde u ilised c ops is posi ioning he en isioned ac i i y om wo king wi h gene ic
esou ces o new b eeding ac i i ies. In gene al e ms, he ange o me hods o main ain and inc ease
gene ic di e si y and selec and de elop sui able cul i a s spans om Gene ic esou ces Dynamic
Managemen o De elopmen o new a ie ies (Figu e 5, uppe axis). The ange goes om wo king wi h
one gene ic esou ce (e. g. he alo iza ion in a local alue chain o a adi ional land ace o a ce ain
neglec ed c op), o cul i a es ing o al eady a ailable ma e ials (no used any mo e o newly b ough
in om a cul i a ion egion) up o he c ea ion o new gene ic di e si y h ough b eeding. When
wo king wi h NUCs i is no always possible o necessa y o se up a b eeding p og am. Acco ding o
he local bio-physical and socio-economic equi emen s in he a ge alue chain, a gene ic esou ces
dynamic managemen o cul i a es ing app oach migh be as well a sui able app oach. In o he cases,
gi en he impossibili y o in oduce a ce ain NUC in a egion o he o eseen ma ke oppo uni y, a
b eeding p og am can also be sui ed.
In ag icul u al egions whe e a c op has been g own o gene a ions, a p ima y ocus is
sugges ed owa ds he imp o emen o exis ing land aces a he han hei eplacemen wi h new
cul i a s, unless he e a e challenges ega ding cu en a ming and ood equi emen s ha can only be
o e come h ough b eeding.
This app oach has en i onmen al and economic ad an ages as i allows o conse e ag obiodi e si y
and i is less cos ly compa ed wi h cul i a de elopmen . Ye , easibili y in e ms o in eg a ing he
land aces in nowadays ag onomic managemen p ac ices o es o ing adi ional ones shall be ca e ully
conside ed acco ding o he c opping sys em and alue chain o e e ence. One example o such a ade-
o could be he choice be ween cul i a ing an inde e mina e common bean a ie y, whose ha es
canno be mechanised, and de eloping a new bushy a ie y om he same gene ic base.
The ecommenda ion o p io i ise he use o land aces is ounded on he ecogni ion ha hey a e
dynamic popula ions ha ha e e ol ed and con inue o adap o hei speci ic local condi ions h ough
bo h na u al and human selec ion. Consequen ly, hey possess a aluable gene ic he e ogenei y ha
p o ides esilience and ye a deg ee o inhe en adap a ion o hei adi ional managemen sys ems
and uses. The cen al p inciple he e is o p ese e hei ag icul u al signi icance by using inno a i e
(e.g. pa icipa o y) selec ion and/o b eeding app oaches o shape hei ongoing e olu ion. By
in eg a ing adi ional knowledge and on- a m selec ion o cu en ag icul u e p ac ices needs, his
app oach ensu es ha imp o emen s a e ele an and bene icial wi hin he c op's exis ing cul u al and
ecological con ex .
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In o BOX 1 The ole o echnical and social inno a ion in NUCs b eeding
In gene al, inno a ion in plan b eeding in ol es he con inuous de elopmen o new me hods, ools and
s a egies o enhance he de elopmen o plan a ie ies. Al hough he e m o en calls o mind images
o cu ing-edge echnical inno a ion such as molecula biology ools, inno a ion in his ield is no
con ined o scien i ic b eak h oughs. Fo su e, echnical inno a ions ha e mi o ed ad ances in
scien i ic knowledge, especially in he 20 h cen u y when deepe insigh s in o plan physiology, gene ics
and molecula biology enabled he de elopmen o new c op a ie ies wi h knowledge o he a ge c op
ha was p e iously unimaginable. These scien i ic ad ances su ely inc ease p ecision and accele a e
gene ic gain. Howe e , seeds a e no jus ano he ag icul u al inpu . They a e also a cul u al and
ecological commons, ca ying his o ies, adi ions, and socio-ecological ela ionships. This means ha
plan b eeding mus also emb ace social inno a ion—new ways o o ganizing, collabo a ing, and
sha ing knowledge ha ensu e b eeding se es di e se communi ies and ecosys ems.
Social Inno a ion in plan b eeding encompasses pa icipa o y plan b eeding (PPB), commons-based
seed ne wo ks, collabo a i e go e nance models, open-sou ce seed ini ia i es and inclusi e
amewo ks ha empowe local alue chain ac o s. Pa icipa o y app oaches in ol e a me s, scien is s,
b eede s and o he alue chain s akeholde s as equal pa ne s in se ing b eeding goals, e alua ions,
selec ions, and seed managemen , building us , local owne ship, and adap i e capaci y. App oaches
such as pa icipa o y plan b eeding a e c ucial, especially o c ops ha a e unde u ilized and
o e looked by indus ial b eeding sys ems. These social inno a ions ensu e ha b eeding esponds o
di e se local needs, empowe s communi ies, and os e s long- e m sus ainabili y by embedding
b eeding wi hin b oade social and ag oecological sys ems.
Inno a ion in plan b eeding, is mos e ec i e when i in eg a es he echnical and social
dimensions (Figu e 9).
While echnical inno a ion p o ides powe ul b eeding ools and a deepe unde s anding o gene ics
and pheno ypes, social inno a ion ensu es ha hese ools a e embedded wi hin equi able, con ex -
sensi i e, a me -cen ed sys ems.
2.6. Mo e b eeding o complex c opping sys ems
When ying o include mino c ops in o di e si ied a ming sys ems, we also encoun e he limi a ion
o li le echnical esea ch applied o hese mo e complex sys ems. Fo example, in e c opping o g ain
legumes wi h ce eals can p omo e an ag oecology-based in ensi ica ion o low-inpu sys ems, along
wi h o he ad an ages (e.g., g ea e ce eal p o ein con en ; educ ion o cos ly and/o en i onmen -
un iendly inpu s). On he o he hand, ob aining a balanced legume-ce eal mix u e is equen ly
hinde ed, o he legume species componen s, by insu icien compe i i e abili y o he legume agains
he ce eal. As he pe o mance o geno ypes g own in pu e s and as monoc ops is no necessa ily a good
indica o o hei pe o mance g own in in e c ops, key ques ions o b eede s a e o which ai s one
can selec in monoc op en i onmen and o wha o he s he selec ion di ec ly in in e c opping se ing
is necessa y. A he momen he selec ion o a ie ies speci ically adap ed o in e c opping emains a
majo p ac ical challenge o i s widesp ead deploymen and equi es e o and esou ces (Rubiales e
al., 2023).
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DIVINFOOD alues he use o mino c ops in di e si ied a ming sys ems. To p omo e ag oecological
managemen p ac ices, DIVINFOOD wo ks on selec ing and es ing he mino c ops in he con ex o
in e c opping in se e al o he LLs.
APPROACHES
2.7. B eeding o Di e si y
When de eloping cul i a s o ag oecological and o ganic sys ems, al e na i e app oaches migh be o
in e es compa ed o b eeding o con en ional a ming sys ems.
Fo example, he e ogeneous ma e ials, ha a e in a-speci ic gene ically di e se cul i a s o e g ea e
adap abili y and esilience. B eeding o Di e si y (Chable e al., 2020), which p io i ize gene ic di e si y
and decen alized adap a ion a e pa icula ly well-sui ed o o ganic and ag oecological a ming due o
hei abili y o enhance esilience agains bio ic s esses (such as pes s and diseases) and abio ic s esses
(such as d ough o poo soil condi ions). By educing eliance on chemical inpu s, high gene ic di e si y
cul i a s (such as e olu iona y popula ions, open pollina ed a ie ies, composi e c oss popula ions,
o ganic he e ogenous ma e ials, a me s selec ions) align wi h o ganic a ming p inciples. Addi ionally,
high gene ic di e si y cul i a s con ibu e o ecosys em se ices. Thei dynamic adap abili y allows
hem o e ol e in esponse o local condi ions, making hem ideal o low-inpu sys ems like o ganic
a ms. The EU O ganic egula ion (Regula ion (EU) 2018/848) ecogni ion o "O ganic He e ogeneous
Ma e ial" (OHM) u he suppo s he use o high gene ic di e si y cul i a s in Eu ope. Fo mino c ops,
b eeding o high gene ic di e si y cul i a s o en o e s a good cos -bene i balance. In ac , his me hod
helps o p ese e gene ic di e si y in mino species, while also c ea ing niche ma ke oppo uni ies.
B eeding o gene ically di e se cul i a s should be p io i ised (popula ion b eeding, o ganic
he e ogenous ma e ial b eeding). The decision o de eloping and he e ogeneous ma e ials a he han
homogeneous a ie ies, should be made in consul a ion wi h all ele an ac o s o he a ge alue chain
o minimize he ade-o o he di e en op ions. Gene ally he e ogenous ma e ials ha e he highes
po en ial in local alue chains, o quali y p oduc s and cul i a ion in highly di e si ied a ming sys ems
and in ma ginal condi ions.
DIVINFOOD alues he use o no el app oaches o b eeding. To p omo e ag obiodi e si y and ailo ed
ma ke s, DIVINFOOD wo ks on de eloping he e ogeneous ma e ial o pea, einko n, emme and poula d
whea (in I aly, F ance and Hunga y, Appendix 3).
2.8. Align b eeding wi h he e hical alues o in ol ed
s akeholde s
The de elopmen o NUCs is no solely a scien i ic p oblem o be sol ed wi h echnology; i is a mo al
and socie al issue ega ding ag obiodi e si y conse a ion and ood di e si y and inhe en cul u al
di e si y. B eeding p og ams ha a e no anspa en and a e no aligned wi h he alues o hei
Page 18/35
s akeholde s—such as a espec o adi ional knowledge o a commi men o ood so e eign y—a e
likely o ace esis ance and ail o achie e hei goals.
This p inciple mo es beyond echnical easibili y o add ess he e hical dimensions o plan b eeding,
encompassing a complex se o p inciples, including en i onmen al s ewa dship, social equi y and
espec o li ing o ganisms. The selec ion o b eeding me hods and app oaches o NUCs mus be
guided by he e hical and no ma i e a i udes o all in ol ed s akeholde s.
A mul i-ac o consul a ion by he DIVINFOOD p ojec will summa ize a ision o u u e NUC seed
sys ems in Eu ope is a conc e e applica ion o his p inciple. This app oach ecognizes ha he success
o a b eeding p og am is undamen ally ied o he us and buy-in o he communi ies i se es, making
anspa ency and accoun abili y non-nego iable componen s o he p ocess.
2.9. P omo ing Access o Seeds
A co e ene o NUC de elopmen is he p io i iza ion o a me access o seeds, including he c ucial
p ac ice o on- a m seed sa ing. The acili a ion o communi y seed banks (CSBs) and/o SME-based
local seed p oduc ion is a c ucial s a egy o building a esilien seed sec o o NUCs. Communi y seed
banks a e a mo e han simple conse a ion ools; hey a e ounda ional economic and social
ins i u ions. They p o ide a i al unc ion by o e ing a me s, pa icula ly smallholde s, access o locally
adap ed a ie ies ha may be una ailable o oo cos ly h ough o mal sys ems. Wo king wi h NUCs can
be also a business occasion o small scale p o essional seed p oduce s, combining seed access wi h
u al de elopmen and job c ea ion.
In he LL Ce -Occ a simpli ied e sion o he FAO’s anda d Ma e ial T ans e Ag eemen (sMTA)2 was
de eloped o allowing a mo e easy and unde s andable exchange o seeds among a me s. OMKI is
in ol ed in ac i i ies ela ed o seed quali y in o ganic a ming in o de o de elop capaci y bulding on
di e en aspec s o seed p oduc ion
Figu e 10. Whi e lupin seeds (Pho o: Ma ia e esa Lazza o)
2The S anda d Ma e ial T ans e Ag eemen (SMTA) is a s anda d con ac ha se s ou he e ms and condi ions ensu ing ha
he ele an p o isions o he In e na ional T ea y a e ollowed when ans e ing plan gene ic ma e ial ha is included in he
Mul ila e al Sys em. h ps://www. ao.o g/plan - ea y/a eas-o -wo k/ he-mul ila e al-sys em/sm a/en/
Page 19/35
COLLABORATIONS
2.10. Mul i-Ac o in ol emen
A co e ecommenda ion based on he DIVINFOOD LLs expe ience o he success o NUCs seed sec o
ad ancemen is o wo k wi h an inclusi e pa icipa o y app oach open o all alue chains’ ac o s (In o
BOX 2). This app oach p o ides a holis ic pic u e o desi able ai s along he whole alue chain, while
con ibu ing o e alua e cul i a s and co-de elop p o ocols and ecipes o he p oduc ion, p ocessing
and consump ion o NUCs.
In DIVINFOOD, s akeholde s collabo a e wi hin LLs wi h he ul ima e aim o se up e i o ial ne wo ks
o biodi e si y go e nance and managemen . A di e se se o ac o s is included, such as policymake s,
a me s, ci izens, consume s, ood p ocesso s, gas onomis s, e aile s and o he p o essionals o he
ag i- ood sys em. In ime DIVINFOOD aims o suppo he ans o ma ion o LLs in o new e i o ial
mul i-ac o ne wo ks in cha ge o including local s akeholde s’ needs, co-manage b eeding, and o ganise
seed mul iplica ion. The implemen a ion p ac ices o he pa icipa o y and mul i-ac o app oach a e
e y di e si ied, as each Li ing Lab ac s in di e en local and egional en i onmen al, ag icul u al,
poli ical and socio-cul u al ci cums ances. Because o his, we de eloped a amewo k o summa ising
hese expe iences and showcasing pa hways o u u e mul i-ac o ac i i ies wo king on NUC b eeding,
cul i a ion and use (In o BOX 3).
An impo an poin o e lec ion o he ne wo ks in ol ed in de eloping he seed sec o o
unde u ilised c ops is which s akeholde g oups a e in ol ed. Awa eness on his aspec is necessa y o
goals se ing and app op ia e ne wo k acili a ion and go e nance managemen .
The e can be (Figu e 5., lowe axis) mo e esea ch-cen e ed app oaches, such as he cases o esea ch
o ganiza ions eaching ou o di e en ac o s and ini ia e and conduc pa icipa o y ac i i ies o suppo
he NUC p omo ion p ocess; and also he o he way a ound, mo e communi y-based app oaches, i.e.
ac o s a e ini ially mo i a ed and igge he collabo a ion, e.g. a a me collec i e ha s a s c osses and
selec ions o de elop own peasan seeds wi hou any p io inpu om esea ch o ganiza ions. Fo
example, Leg-I -Swi z is on he igh side a he b eeding axis, as i has es ablished o malized b eeding
p og ams o whi e lupin and pea, building on a b oad ange o accessed and gene a ed gene ic di e si y,
po en ially holding mul iple bene icial ai s o cul i a ion, p ocessing and consump ion and allowing
o selec ions o he bes sui able ma e ials. The co e b eeding wo k is pe o med in a p o essionalized
se ing and suppo ed by he scien i ic expe ise in molecula b eeding and bioin o ma ics by he
esea ch ins i u e o sea ch o complex ai cons ella ions which would make he u iliza ion o he NUC
mo e a ac i e o he ag i- ood sec o , e.g. an h acnose ole ance combined wi h g ain swee ness in he
case o whi e lupins. The le el o mul i-ac o in ol emen in he b eeding wo k is a he low; howe e ,
ne wo king o connec o a me s, p ocesso s and consume s as well as awa eness aising ac i i ies o
ci izens ha e been o ganized o igge ma ke de elopmen and demand. Simila ly, in I aly, a me
e alua ion is conside ed o cul i a selec ion a he la es s ages o cul i a de elopmen . A specula
example, he Li ing Lab Bean-Lyon wo ks on a single cul i a , he hai loom bean ‘Ha ico iande’, so i
is on he le side o he b eeding axis. He e, he app oach is no b eeding by imp o ing ai s and
selec ing ou o a ange o geno ypes bu building up and adap ing he ag i- ood sys em a ound a speci ic
geno ype wi h a local adi ion o cul i a ion. To ul il his, se e al ac o s om a me s o p ocesso s and
gas onomis s o ci izens, consume s and policymake s a e in ol ed o co-de elop a way o cul i a e
Page 20/35
and consume his speci ic geno ype. By b inging a o go en cul i a back o u iliza ion, ag obiodi e si y
is enhanced on he a m, c op and nu i ion le el by di e si ying c op o a ions and inc easing local bean
p oduc ion. The speci ic cul i a is allowed o be main ained no only ex-si u bu in-si u, while new
gene ic di e si y is no gene a ed
In o BOX 2. Pa icipa o y Plan B eeding & Mul i-Ac o In ol emen : a holis ic app oach o
enhance ag obiodi e si y
Pa icipa o y Plan B eeding (PPB) is an app oach o de elop gene ic ma e ial in o med by he
pe cep ions and expe iences o end-use s. The main ad an ages a e he insigh s in o ai impo ance
and geno ype e alua ion in he eal condi ions o cul i a ion and use, which is connec ed o di ec
adop ion p ospec s (Cecca elli & G ando, 2007; Chi oleau & Desclaux, 2006). Many success ul PPB
ini ia i es we e implemen ed in he Global Sou h (Song e al., 2023), whe e esou ce cons ains make i
a iable al e na i e o expensi e and no necessa ily mos sui ed s anda d b eeding p og ams. In
Eu ope, PPB is inc easingly eme ging wi h se e al ini ia i es in place (Colley e al., 2021). PPB and is
pa icula ly in e es ing o he NUCs as i o e s a ugal and locally based op ion. Pa icipa ion ac i i ies
end o ocus on a me in ol emen , wi h expe iences and a emp s o engage o he s akeholde s o en
including much less s uc u ed app oaches and less di ec in luence on he b eeding ou come. Howe e ,
as u ging challenges such as clima e change, (ag o)biodi e si y loss, land deg ada ion and he
en i onmen al oo p in o ag icul u al and ood p oduc ion call o a sys ema ic shi in he whole ag i-
ood sys em owa ds di e si y, esilience and inpu educ ion, i becomes ob ious ha he de elopmen
o u u e gene ic ma e ial and associa ed ag icul u al p ac ices demands a holis ic app oach in ol ing
all conce ned pa ies o he ag i- ood sys em (Colley e al., 2022).
A e a cen u y o scien i ic and economic specializa ion, segmen a ion and op imiza ion, a pe spec i e
o e-lea ning and e-connec ing o ecologically aluable ag oecological p ac ices such as he cul i a ion
and consump ion o neglec ed and unde u ilised c ops (NUCs) is aken, suppo ed by he p essu e o
he o ganic and ag oecological mo emen and en i onmen al and social ac i is s.
In he ligh o hese de elopmen s, i is impo an o ex end he concep o Pa icipa o y Plan B eeding
o he me hods o Mul i-Ac o Value Chain C ea ion, wi h he objec i e o ully in ol e all s akeholde s
in he alue chain, including a me s, ood p oduce s, che s, e aile s, consume s, ci izens and e en
policy make s in he de elopmen (b eeding), cul i a ion ( a ming) and use ( ood sys em) o locally
adap ed gene ic ma e ial o NUCs.
While i is easy o unde s and he need o his mul i-ac o app oach, he de elopmen o he concep
and i s implemen a ion a e eme ging oge he wi h he a emp s o combine PPB and sui able alue
chain co-c ea ion o he gene ic ma e ial ou come o pa icipa o y b eeding and selec ion p og ams.
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Figu e 11. DIVINFOOD eam membe s making an expe ience wi h g ey pea (le ), einko n and emme
( igh ) pa icipa o y plo e alua ion a annual mee ing 2024 and 2025 espec i ely (Pho o:
DIVINFOOD
2.11. Goals se ing in Mul i-Ac o B eeding
Gi en he in e es o wo k in a mul i-ac o se ing, a u he domain o e lec ion (especially o he
mul i-ac o ne wo k acili a o s) is abou which GOALS can be eached gi en he s a ing poin o a
ce ain LL o alue chain. We de eloped a amewo k o he goals in mul i-ac o b eeding (Figu e 8) o
imp o e cla i y abou di e en domains and a ge s, which can be used as guideline on he oppo uni ies
and limi a ions o pa icipa o y ac i i ies. This amewo k can suppo mul i-ac o ne wo ks in
designing pa icipa o y ac i i ies. This is conside ed impo an , because pa icipa ion needs dedica ed
p epa a ion, acili a ion and e alua ion, which means a high le el o human esou ce e o . As mos
p og ams on NUCs wo k unde limi ed esou ces, in o med decisions abou who o in ol e when and
o e all well-planned ac i i ies can maximize he impac .
The amewo k also demons a es, based on he DIVINFOOD LLs, ha many ac ions a e no aken o
help he selec ion in any gi en panel o cul i a s (e alua ion/selec ion), which can be unde s ood as
s ic ly pa icipa o y b eeding in he na ow sense, bu a he o es ablish and imp o e he condi ions
o he NUC o come in o cul i a ion and consump ion (capaci y building), app ecia ed by he socie y,
poli ics and he ag i- ood s akeholde s (awa eness- aising) in he con ex o mul i-ac o alue chain
c ea ion.
We g ouped he GOALS in mul i-ac o ini ia i es o NUCs in: awa eness aising, capaci y
building and e alua ion/selec ion om he closes o alue chain c ea ion o he closes o
pa icipa o y cul i a de elopmen (Figu e 12). O cou se, he di e en goals a e in e -connec ed
and all oge he suppo he inclusion o NUCs om “pla e o seed”, ye opics ( a ge o awa eness
aising ac i i ies), domains (o capaci y building ac i i ies) and ai s ( o e alua ion/selec ion) a e
di e en ac oss hese h ee goals. We sugges o use his scheme o making clea as a ne wo k / LL
which ac i i y is conduc ed o which goal as i s s ep o op imise human and economic esou ces.
The Awa eness- aising goal ocuses on se ing up he b oade con ex o impo ance and alue o
main ain and p omo e NUCs by s imula ing consciousness o he o e a ching opics such as
ag obiodi e si y and socioeconomics, e hics and jus ice in he ag i- ood sys em, including he seed
sys em (seed legisla ion, seed ma ke , managemen o gene ic esou ces, b eeding, mul iplica ion
Page 22/35
and seed access and dis ibu ion). The speci ic local case o a NUC is connec ed o b oade ques ions
on he ela ionship be ween socie y and na u e. This includes aspec s such as explo ing how
esilience owa ds clima e change and in a- and in e gene ic di e si y a e en angled, unco e ing
cu en poli ical and economic s uc u es and p ac ices hinde ing he mains eaming o
ag obiodi e si y, explaining c i ical aspec s o echnology- ocused b eeding me hods and
acknowledging which di e se goods and se ices a e deli e ed by di e si ied ood sys ems. Fo
example, hese goods can be he p omo ion o human heal h h ough di e se plan -based die s and
aluable nu ien s and as es o NUCs; cul u al, aes he ic and he i age alues by ( e)lea ning
a ming and p ocessing p ac ices, alue o go en handc a skills and culina y adi ions and e-
di e si y ag icul u e on he landscape le el; and ecosys em se ices, e.g. bene icial ai s o NUCs
like deep oo ing and ni ogen ixa ion o soil heal h o inc easing cul i a ion o legumes o he
bene i o pollina o s. By aking his wide pic u e in o accoun , pa icipan s o all kinds o ac o
g oups a e add essed in hei ole as ci izens (and e en ually policymake s) in hei espec i e
poli ical sys em. These ac i i ies empowe o ake mo e in o med decisions in hei speci ic se ings
(gene ic esou ce managemen , a ming, ood manu ac u es, shops, ki chens) and in i e o join
poli ical o ces and build b oad alliances o enhancing ag obiodi e si y. This g oundwo k o
unde s anding and mo i a ion can be seen as a pe quisi e o wo k on he goals o capaci y building
and selec ion/e alua ion, which a e mo e echnical and speci ic. Impo an ly, his is no a one-way
p ocess, as he pa icipan s migh b ing addi ional c i ical e lec ions and insigh s om hei own
backg ounds in o he discussion.
In he con ex o awa eness- aising ano he app oach can be on ac o -speci ic aspec s o NUC
p oduc ion by in oducing he challenges bu also oppo uni ies hey pose. Fa me s can be made
awa e o addi ional c ops hey ha e no conside ed so a . Thei p ospec s can be discussed, such
as widening c op o a ions, educing ag icul u al inpu s and making be e use o ma ginal lands
by using low-in ensi e c ops such as NUCs, as well as di e si y, heal h and he i age alues as
ma ke ing ac o . Also, hei challenges should be explained, such as seed a ailabili y, lowe yield
le els, lodging endencies o echnical di icul ies in ha es ing and so ing/cleaning. Awa eness on
he possibili y o ex end he p oduc ange, de elop new a ac i e and heal hy ecipes and
di e si y, heal h and he i age alues as ma ke ing ac o will be in o ma i e o p ocesso s and
gas onomis s, as well as discussing challenges such as a ying aw ma e ial a ailabili y, need o
specialized in as uc u e and p ocesses and he e o o explain new p oduc s and e en ually
inc eased p ice le els o consume s. On he consume side, awa eness abou challenges o a me s
and p ocesso s inc ease unde s anding o p emium p ice se ing and should also emphasize he
esponsibili y o p o-ac i e, c i ical consume s who shape hei own local ood supply en i onmen ,
e.g. by sugges ing po olio changes o e aile s o ake accoun o di ec -ma ke ing s uc u es.
The capaci y building goal goes beyond awa eness aising, owa ds he de elopmen o p ac ical
knowledge and in as uc u es o make NUC cul i a ion and consump ion a eali y. The wo king
modus in his domain is he e o e pa icipa o y, p ac ice-o ien ed esea ch o y ou , documen
and dissemina e he bes ways o cul i a e and p ocess NUCs and o acili a e he exchange be ween
all ac o s along he alue chain and in eg a e es ablished and new knowledge o bes p axis. The
domain b eeding e e s o encou aging a me s o make hei own on- a m selec ions o si e-
adap ed cul i a s. Co- esea ch in he domain ag onomy includes on- a m ials o de eloping
sui able cul i a ion p o ocols, e.g. he sea ch o a p ope companion c op o in e c opping sys ems
o he igh sowing densi y, weed managemen op ions o he poin o ha es and se ings o he
h eshing machine. I also means collec ing eedback by a me s on he p ac icabili y o cul i a e
he espec i e NUC in hei speci ic se ing, and wha needs o be imp o ed in hei iew ia
Page 23/35
imp o ed/mo e sui able cul i a s o cul i a ion sys em modi ica ions. Fo p ocessing, new
p oduc s and ecipes can be in oduced o o co-de eloped wi h ood p ocesso s and, oge he wi h
ood e aile s, hey can es ima e he echnical and economic easibili y and ma ke abili y p ospec s
and s a egies. Consume s con ibu e wi h hei eedback on p oduc s and can also be accessed o be
ins uc ed on o co-de elop p o ocols and ecipes o home cooking; igge ing ma ke demand by
consume s in o med abou how o p ocess he p oduc in o a as y dish.
The E alua ion/Selec ion goal has he s onges ocus on he seed sys em. I e e s o mul i-ac o
in ol emen in he sense o pa icipa o y b eeding, meaning he in eg a ion o iews o di e en
ac o s in o ai de ini ion and selec ion in a cul i a panel o any kind (e.g. land aces, popula ions,
b eeding lines). Imp o ed decisions on ai impo ance in o med by ele an ac o s and
conside a ion o addi ional ai s will bene i he selec ion p ocess o ind sui able cul i a s. I also
opens he in e es ing esea ch a ea o compa ing he e ec o selec ions by di e en ac o s (e.g.
be ween a me s and p o essional b eede s’ decisions). In his ealm, ac o s a e in i ed o e alua e
he in a-gene ic di e si y, e.g. a as ing session wi h consume s o selec o he bes as e, ex u e
and appea ance ou o a cul i a panel, o o ask a me s o choose hei a ou i e plo s in a cul i a
panel o hei a ou i e single plan s in seg ega ing ma e ial, and/o o desc ibe and a e he
plo s/single plan s o c i e ia ele an o hem.
In o BOX 3 Me hodology: summa ize he expe ience o he DIVINFOOD Li ing Labs
The implemen a ion p ac ices o he mul i-ac o pa icipa o y app oach a e di e si ied in DIVINFOOD,
as each Li ing Lab ac s in di e en local and egional en i onmen al, ag icul u al, poli ical and socio-
cul u al ci cums ances. We used he oppo uni y o hese di e se examples o de elop a amewo k o
e lec ion on hese expe iences and showcasing pa hways o u u e mul i-ac o ac i i ies in hese and
o he ini ia i es wo king on NUC de elopmen and p omo ion (Figu e 5, Figu e 12, Figu e 14).
Semi-s uc u ed in e iews wi h DIVINFOOD Li ing Labs coo dina o s ha e been conduc ed in 2024, o
ge an unde s anding o local and c op-speci ic asks and challenges and he s uc u e o he Li ing Lab
and conce ned s akeholde ne wo ks and i s connec ion wi h he seed sys em. In hese in e iews wi h
he LL coo dina o , he conc e e ac i i ies wi h mul i-ac o in ol emen we e in es iga ed. The esul s
ha e been s uc u ed in o a summa y pe ype o e en s, ac o g oups in ol ed, me hods used,
implemen a ion s a us, expec a ions and ou pu , suppo ing ac o s and challenges. Based on his
o e iew, we de eloped he guidelines ela ed o (1) ma e ial ype, (2) ac o in ol emen , (3) goals in
mul i-ac o in ol emen o he di e en ac o s and (4) speci ic goals when in ol ing membe s o he
gene al public in hei ole as ci izens s consume s. These amewo ks, illus a ed as in og aphics,
showcase he o e a ching opics in mul i-ac o in ol emen which we e a ising om all in e iews and
illus a ing common hemes and pa hways despi e a highly local-speci ic con ex in each LL.
Page 24/35
Figu e 12. Goals in Mul i-Ac o B eeding (sou ce: au ho s)
DIVINFOOD – H2020 n°101000383
Page 25/35
2.12. In ol emen o consume s and ci izens
As ci izens/consume s a e o en in ol ed in alue chain c ea ion bu mo e a ely in seed and
b eeding sec o de elopmen , based on he DIVINFOOD expe iences we summa ised he
in ol emen amewo k o hese speci ic ac o -g oups (Figu e 14).
Ci izens and Consume s a e o en seen as he ‘gene al public’ ac o g oup bu ha e qui e dis inc
cha ac e is ics and he e o e di e en implica ions in ac i i y design, when aking a heo e ical
and planning look a hei in ol emen . O cou se, a pa icipan can ha e he ole o bo h a
consume and ci izen, and on mos occasions, his will be he case. Anyway, o he ac i i y
o ganiza ion and he es ima ion o he expec ed ou pu , i is help ul o be clea abou he
di e en aims and impac pa hways depending on which ole he pa icipan is expec ed o ake.
O cou se, any e en like an open ield o ood p oduc ion day could include se e al o hese
pa hways, so ha bo h oles a e eached on he same day.
In he awa eness aising pa hway, people a e add essed as ci izens, which is a ole e e y in i ed
pe son o any e en has, nex o mo e speci ic oles such as a me , p ocesso . The goal is o c ea e
unde s anding abou wha could be he alue o NUCs o a di e si ied ood sys em. This can
happen on he species le el (Figu e 14, wi h ci izens, le ) by ocusing on one NUC o se e al
NUCS, e en ually compa ed o cash c ops, expe ienced on- ield and/o h ough p oduc as ings.
So, he ac i i y has a ocus on senso y, di ec imp essions. The usual app oach will be inpu -
o ien a ed h ough a guided ou ; howe e , i is possible o include in e ac i e elemen s. Fo
example, pa icipan s could be in i ed o es ima e he yield le els o a NUC compa ed o a
common cash c op o desc ibe hei o e all imp ession o he NUC. On he me hods le el (Figu e
14, middle), wi h he s a ing poin o NUCs alues and challenges, di e en ypes o cul i a s,
b eeding app oaches and implica ions o he choice o cul i a de elopmen s a egies and how
his is connec ed o seed policies and he seed ma ke can be discussed. This pa hway has a mo e
ins uc i e and cogni i e cha ac e compa ed o he le and igh pa hways, as i deals wi h
speci ic sec o knowledge which is no known o he public in mos cases. I can be supplemen ed
by a g oup wo k pa o deepen he le el o engaging wi h he opic. Fo example, pa icipan s
could be asked o b ains o m wha he Dis inc i eness Uni o mi y and S abili y (DUS) sys em
o a ie y egis a ion means o small-scale seed ac o s, collec d i e s o he decline o
ag obiodi e si y o isualize s a egies o enhancing di e se ag i- ood sys ems. G oup
exchange and eedback om he pa icipan s will be a sou ce o aluable in o ma ion abou how
hey pe cei e hese issues, which could be used o u he awa eness- aising campaigns o eed
in o he capaci y building domain, e.g. o in o m s a egies o ma ke ing. A he a ie al le el
(Figu e 14, igh ), ci izens a e in i ed o expe ience he in a-gene ic a iance in a NUC cul i a
panel and gain insigh s abou di e en possibili ies and anges o ai exp ession and
app oaches o e alua ion and selec ion in his cul i a panel. This can be done on- ield and/o
wi h a panel as ing session. Like a he species le el, i is a senso y-o ien a ed app oach, usually
based on an inpu - ocused guided ou and supplemen ed wi h exe cises ampli ying he
unde s anding. Fo example, pa icipan s could e alua e ce ain easily obse able ai s such as
ea liness, igo , plan heal h o lodging suscep ibili y and expe ience i s hand ypical ade-o s
in b eeding selec ion, e.g. i he heal hies cul i a is also he one mos p one o lodging o i he
ea lie cul i a s, which migh be a o able o a me s wishing o an ea ly ha es , ha e low
igo and yield po en ial.
In he capaci y building pa hway pa icipan s a e add essed in hei ole as consume s (Figu e
14, Goal 2). The ocus is on igge ing ma ke demand by co- de eloping, imp o ing and sha ing
ad ise on conc e e NUC-based p oduc s and ecipes which will be sui able o home o
gas onomy consump ion. The e a e wo pa hways in engaging he consume s o capaci y-
DIVINFOOD – H2020 n°101000383
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Appendix 2 Examples o molecula b eeding ac i i ies in DIVINFOOD Li ing Labs
DIVINFOOD
inno a i e
echniques
C op Li ing Lab
(Coun y) Desc ip ion O ganisa ion
Molecula
b eeding o
g asspea
G ass pea
(La hy us
sa i us)
GPea-Po
(Po ugal)
• Collec ion o 182 g ass pea accessions ep esen a i e o he species' wo ldwide
cul i a ed ge mplasm di e si y, being composed by adi ional land aces,
b eeding lines, and a ie ies.
• A o al o 16 ag onomic ai s we e sco ed acco ding o he “Desc ip o s o
La hy us spp.” (IPGRI 2000).
• A panel o 5,651 high-quali y Single Nucleo ide Polymo phism (SNP) ma ke s
was used o es o SNP- ai associa ions
• To ou knowledge his is he i s g ass pea Genome Wide Associa ion S udy
(GWAS) epo ing pu a i e mechanisms o ag onomic adap a ion and pes
esis ance gene ic con ol, pa ing he way o he de elopmen o molecula
ools o assis p ecision b eeding owa d achie ing mul i-s ess esis ance g ass
pea a ie ies.
>> Resul s o be published
Uni e sidade NOVA de
Lisboa (UNL)
Molecula
b eeding o lupins
Whi e
lupin
(Lupinus
albus)
Leg-I Swi z
(I aly)
• Resea ch 1
: Imp o ed adap a ion o au umn sowing in o ganic a ms o
No he n I aly. 150 inb ed lines a e being es ed unde au umn sowing in
No he n I aly o g ain yield, wi h a a me assessmen day (o ganized by
FIRAB). Genomic selec ion models will concu en ly be de eloped o g ain
yield (exploi ing p ojec da a as well as ea lie pheno yping da a, using al eady
a ailable molecula da a). Concu en ly, 16 op-pe o ming lines selec ed
pheno ypically o yield and a me s’ accep abili y a e being es ed in an
o ganic a m.
>> Resul s o be published
• Resea ch 2: Imp o ed adap a ion o mode a ely calca eous soils. The aim o
his wo k is o alida e a genomic selec ion model o lime ole ance
es ablished om p e ious p ojec s, applying i o selec ion wi hin 450
independen lines whose geno yping da a a e al eady a ailable. CREA is
pe o ming his p oo -o -concep expe imen in la ge managed en i onmen s
Council o Ag icul u al
Resea ch and
Ag icul u al Economy
Analysis (CREA-ZA)
DIVINFOOD – H2020 n°101000383
Page 33/35
wi h con as ing soil ypes, including ma e ial ha is p edic i ely bes -
ole an , mid- ole an . and bo om- ole an o soil lime.
>> Resul s o be published
Molecula
b eeding o lupins
Whi e
lupin
(Lupinus
albus)
Leg-I Swi z
(Swi z land)
• Bulked Seg egan Analysis o an F2 popula ion, seg ega ing o wo di e en
low alkaloid con e ing loci
• Iden i ica ion o a no el QTL on ch omosome 5,
• No el sou ce o swee ness apa om paupe and PCR ma ke de eloped
• 50 s acked allele ecombinan s we e iden i ied ha exhibi an excep ionally
low o al alkaloid con en (22.8 ± 10.4 ppm), e en when compa ed o
geno ypes known o ca y he allele associa ed o he mos d as ic educ ion in
QAs, paupe (171.7 ± 18.5 ppm).
>> Publica ion:
h ps://doi.o g/10.1186/s12870-025-06951-7
Resea ch Ins i u e o
O ganic Ag icul u e
(FiBL)
DIVINFOOD – H2020 n°101000383
Page 34/35
Appendix 3 Examples o popula ion b eeding in DIVINFOOD Li ing Labs
DIVINFOOD
inno a i e
echniques
C op Li ing Lab
(Coun y) Desc ip ion O ganisa ion
Pea popula ion
b eeding in I aly
Pea
(
Pisum sa i um
)
Leg-I Swi z
(I aly)
•
This wo k aims o assess he adap a ion and ag onomic alue o
e olu iona y popula ions ela i e o pu e lines unde on- a m
condi ions in No he n I aly. In one o ganic a m, we will compa e
one popula ion ha is being no i ied as O ganic He e ogeneous
Ma e ial ( egis e ed as ‘Ellen’) s. he bes pu e line selec ed om
he same gene ic base o o ganic a ms o No he n I aly
( egis e ed as ‘Pan e a Rosa’) s. he pea cul i a cu en ly g own.
This expe imen will be ca ied ou in he season 2025-26.
>> Resul s o be published
One pea popula ion no i ied as O ganic He e ogeneous Ma e ial
(‘Ellen’).
Council o Ag icul u al
Resea ch and Ag icul u al
Economy Analysis (CREA-
ZA)
Emme popula ion
b eeding
Emme
(
T i icum
dicoccum)
Ce -Hung
(Hunga y)
• He e ogeneous popula ions o du um whea we e used as mo he s
in c ossings wi h emme land aces o de elop hulless, high alue,
new emme cul i a candida es.
• Consecu i e spike selec ion s eps and bulk p opaga ion - in he case
o he e ogeneous ma e ials - esul ed in lines and he e ogeneous
popula ions ha exhibi a ious kinds o combina ions o he
pa en al ai s.
• Mos p omising ma e ials ha e been es ed om F4-F5 gene a ions
on a m wi h he pa icipa ion o a me s so ha e olu iona y
adap a ion can ake place, as well as o p o ide an oppo uni y o
a me selec ion om hem.
Hunga ian Resea ch
Ins i u e o O ganic
Ag icul u e (ÖMKi)
Einko n and poula d
whea popula ion
b eeding in F ance
Einko n
(T i icum
monococcum)
Ri e whea
(T i icum
u gidum)
Ce -Occ
(F ance)
• Einko n and i e whea popula ion b eeding is ongoing in Sou h o
F ance
• Conce ning einko n: he s a ing poin o his ini ia i e was he
mobiliza ion o 103 einko n accessions om he Cen e de
Ressou ces Biologiques (CRB) a INRAE Cle mon -Fe and, a key
eposi o y o ce eal gene ic di e si y in F ance. These accessions
INRAe & École
d'ingénieu s de Pu pan
DIVINFOOD – H2020 n°101000383
Page 35/35
ep esen ed a wide gene ic base, including adi ional land aces
and lines collec ed om di e en egions o Eu ope and he
Medi e anean.
• Conce ning i e whea , he ini ia i e began wi h he collec ion o
seeds om CRB, om di e en seedhouses, om a me s, ma e ials
a EI Pu pan. This collec ion ep esen ed a wide gene ic di e si y,
om di e en egions o Eu ope.
