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Increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of organic crop breeding

Project Leader: Grausgruber Heinrich, Project Leader

Duration:: 01.05.2018-29.02.2024

Programme:: Horizon 2020 - Societal Challenges - Research & Innovation Action (RIA)

EU-Project Instruments: Collaborative Project

Type of Research: Applied Research

Staff: Vollmann Johann, Project Staff; Hage-Ahmed Karin, Project Staff; Bürstmayr Hermann, Project Staff; Baumgartner Susanne, Project Staff (bis 30.06.2020); Seereiter Jakob, Project Staff (bis 31.08.2020); Wolf Hanna, Project Staff (bis 31.05.2021); Worel Nadine, Project Staff (bis 31.05.2021); Dohovits Agnes, Project Staff (bis 31.12.2022)

BOKU Research Units: Institute for Biotechnology in Plant Production; Institute of Plant Breeding; Institute of Plant Protection

Funded by: Commission of the European Communities, Rue de la Loi, Brussels, European Union

Abstract: ECOBREED will improve the availability of seed and varieties suitable for organic and low- input production. Activities will focus on four crop species, selected for their potential contribution to increase competitiveness of the organic sector, i.e. common wheat, potato, soybean and common buckwheat. The project will develop (a) methods, strategies and infrastructures for organic breeding, (b) varieties with improved stress resistance, resource use efficiency and quality and (c) improved methods for the production of high quality organic seed. The objectives are:
• To increase the availability of seeds and varieties for the organic and low-input sector
• To identify traits and combinations of traits suited to organic and low-input production environment including high
nutrient use efficiency and weed competitiveness/allelopathy
• To increase breeding activities for organic and low-input crop production.
ECOBREED will increase the competitiveness of the organic and low-input breeding and farming sectors by:
• Identifying genetic and phenotypic variation in morphological, abiotic/biotic tolerance/resistance and nutritional
quality traits that can be used in organic breeding
• Evaluation of the potential of genetic variation for enhanced nutrient acquisition
• Evaluation of the potential for increased weed competitiveness and control
• Optimisation of seed production/multiplication via improved agronomic and seed treatment protocols
• Developing efficient, ready-to-use farmer participatory breeding systems
• Pre-breeding of elite varieties for improved agronomic performance, biotic/abiotic stress resistance/tolerance and
nutritional quality
• Development of training programmes in (a) genomic tools/techniques, (b) PPB and (c) use and application of
improved phenotyping capabilities.
• Ensuring optimum and rapid utilisation and exploitation of project deliverables and innovations by relevant industry
and other user/stakeholder groups.

Keywords: Cultivation of land; Grain cultivation ; Organic farming; Plant breeding; Seed breeding;; organic agriculture; potato; plant breeding; soybean; wheat;