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Berlin, Germany, 8 July 2026 – The new Horizon Europe project COLiBRI (Collaborative Crop Breeding Research and Innovation for a Green Europe) has officially launched, bringing together 17 organisations from across Europe to strengthen coordination in crop breeding research and innovation (R&I) and develop a shared vision for future investment and collaboration. The project was officially launched during its kick-off meeting on 8–9 July 2026 at the Julius Kühn-Institute (JKI) in Berlin, Germany.
\n\n\n\nOver two days, consortium partners met in person for the first time to discuss project plans, align activities across work areas, and begin shaping the collaborative process that will underpin COLiBRI’s work over the next 30 months. Participants representing research institutions, breeding organisations, farmer associations, research infrastructures, European networks and policy actors exchanged perspectives on the opportunities and challenges facing European crop breeding.
\n\n\n\nCrop breeding plays a crucial role in addressing some of Europe’s most pressing challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, food and nutrition security, and the long-term competitiveness of agriculture. Yet research efforts, funding opportunities and infrastructure remain fragmented across Europe. COLiBRI aims to address these challenges by fostering stronger coordination and helping align research priorities, breeding-sector needs, policy objectives and funding opportunities.
\n\n\n\nA central objective of the project is the development of a European Plant Breeding Research and Innovation Roadmap, accompanied by an implementation strategy and recommendations for future coordination and funding mechanisms. Together, these outputs will help create a more coherent and effective European crop breeding R&I ecosystem.
\n\n\n\nA key highlight was the interactive session on stakeholder engagement and network development, as well as a dedicated workshop, where partners discussed how plant breeding research and innovation can contribute to Europe’s current and future policy objectives. The workshop marked an important first step towards developing a shared vision for the future of European plant breeding research and innovation. Participants identified key policy areas relevant to plant breeding, discussed the potential contributions of breeding research to Europe’s future goals, and explored the foundational elements that could help support a stronger and more coordinated R&I ecosystem in the years ahead.
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Over the course of the project, stakeholders from across the crop breeding value chain will contribute through surveys, expert consultations, workshops and networking activities. Their insights will help ensure that the project’s recommendations reflect both current needs and emerging opportunities across Europe’s diverse agricultural systems.
\n\n\n\nAs the consortium embarks on this journey, COLiBRI aims to create a common strategic direction for crop breeding research and innovation in Europe, supporting the development of resilient, competitive and sustainable agricultural systems capable of meeting future environmental, economic and societal challenges.
\n\n\n\nCOLiBRI – Collaborative Crop Breeding Research and Innovation for a Green Europe – is a Horizon Europe Coordination and Support Action funded under Cluster 6 – Farm2Fork. Running from June 2026 to November 2028, the project is coordinated by the Julius Kühn-Institute (Germany) and brings together 17 partner organisations from across Europe. The project will develop a European Plant Breeding Research and Innovation Roadmap, an implementation strategy and recommendations for future coordination and funding mechanisms to strengthen crop breeding research and innovation in Europe.
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