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Launch of the COLiBRI project to shape Europe’s crop breeding research agenda
CIHEAM > AGENDAS > Launch of the COLiBRI project to shape Europe’s crop breeding research agenda
  • CIHEAM Zaragoza joins the Horizon Europe COLiBRI project to strengthen collaboration in crop breeding research and innovation across Europe
  • The project officially commenced at the kick-off meeting in Berlin on 8 and 9 July 2026

Crop breeding is essential for developing varieties capable of responding to climate change, enhancing sustainability and biodiversity, and contributing to food and nutrition security. However, Europe’s crop breeding research and innovation landscape remains fragmented and requires a stronger coordination of efforts, funding and infrastructures.

To address this challenge, the Horizon Europe project COLiBRI –Collaborative Crop Breeding Research and Innovation for a Green Europe– has been launched to build a shared strategic vision to guide future investments.

Over the next two and a half years, 17 partner organisations will work closely with stakeholders across the European crop breeding value chain to define research priorities, assess technological and infrastructure needs, analyse funding gaps, and explore new opportunities for collaboration.

The project officially commenced at the kick-off meeting in Berlin on 8 and 9 July 2026 hosted by the Julius Kühn Institute, the project’s coordinator.

A collaborative crop breeding R+I network

CIHEAM Zaragoza will play a prominent role in identifying research and innovation needs, bottlenecks and opportunities across the European research and innovation crop breeding ecosystem (R+I).

The project will also lay the foundations for a European collaborative network to strengthen cooperation between researchers, businesses, farmers, policymakers and funding bodies and will develop a common roadmap and implementation strategy for the sector.

By establishing a common strategic direction for the sector, COLiBIRI aims to strengthen Europe’s capacity to develop resilient, competitive and sustainable crop production systems, in response to future environmental, economic and social challenges.