Research project AGRarian DIVersity : Tools for robustness and resilience to the impacts of climate change
General introduction
The DIVAGRO project aims to diversify genetic resources for improved varieties of fruit and vegetable species grown in our regions. When creating new varieties, breeders must increasingly incorporate robustness to climate change, and reduced dependence on external inputs and crop protection products is also an important feature. The new genetic resources are being collected across borders, in Flanders, Wallonia, and France. The researchers are exploring two avenues. They will collect material from private collections, nurseries, and public collections throughout Europe. And they are launching appeals to citizens to donate their 'own crops', insofar as these are varieties from (originally) more southerly countries that have been able to survive or adapt to our regions. The collected material will then be assessed for its agronomic qualities and its resilience and robustness in relation to various abiotic stress factors.
Research approach
Specifically, this concerns peaches, pears, cherries, shallots, and beans. To better characterize the genetic resources in pears and cherries, new genotyping techniques are being used, which enable us to determine the diversity present and to identify unique genotypes. The researchers will also use newly developed methods to detect pathogens in plant material and to keep valuable genetic resources virus-free. Viral detection and elimination protocols are being developed for the model species cherry and shallot. Finally, ILVO's modeling expertise will also be put to good use in assessing and evaluating the tolerance of bean varieties to high temperatures. A new peach and pear breeding program will be launched, partly through a participatory process involving citizens. Finally, innovative cultivation methods will also be included in this project for more resilient agriculture in the light of climate adaptation: the researchers are planning experiments with fruit hedges, standard orchards with grazing, and sequential agroforestry, and will assess the benefits of each of these cultivation approaches.
Relevance/Valorization
The increasing frequency of extreme weather conditions (late frost, drought, flooding, etc.) is already having an impact on our crops, our producers, and our food security. It is therefore crucial to seek resilience in varieties and agro-ecosystems, using all available resources and methods. The participation of citizens in the search for more diverse varieties may raise awareness of the importance of a broader genetic pool. We will achieve the same effect through the planned demonstrations of the innovative cultivation methods mentioned above. The new sources, together with the sources we already had in our collection, will be used as a basis for controlled crossbreeding to generate new varieties. DIVAGRO is expected to contribute to a more resilient fruit and vegetable agro-ecosystem in a changing climate.
Financing
Europees Fonds voor Regionale Ontwikkeling (EFRO)
