Objective
To face human population growth, increasing environmental constraints and changes in socio-cultural values, animal breeding must evolve toward a more sustainable model that guarantees production while promoting efficient resource use, animal health and welfare, and preserving genetic diversity. Thanks to recent developments in omics technologies, it is now possible to rethink breeding, taking advantage of improved knowledge on genome-to-phenome relationships that accounts for both genetic and non-genetic mechanisms controlling traits. GEroNIMO will work on chicken and pig, the most used sources of animal protein worldwide, to provide breeders with new knowledge and tools to promote innovative genome- and epigenome enabled selection methods for traits related to production (quantity and quality), efficiency, productive longevity, fertility, resilience and welfare. A large number of animals from cosmopolitan and local breeds will be characterized phenotypically, genetically and epigenetically under different environments to i) identify underlying biological mechanisms affecting trait variation, ii) develop methods to improve selection strategies integrating genetic- and non-genetic factors, and iii) propose strategies to optimize the conservation of genetic and epigenetic diversity. GEroNIMO proposes demand-driven innovation employing a multi-actor approach through the involvement of breeders, professional associations of animal production, and scientists, engaged from the planning phase to the dissemination of results over Europe. GEroNIMO will build on existing academic and commercial knowledge and will analyze large populations to quantify the contribution of genetic and epigenetic variation in gene expression, trait variation and trade-offs between traits. GEroNIMO will also propose a comprehensive and enhanced characterization of diversity by integrating epigenetic diversity into conservation purposes, corresponding to a new integrated conservation strategy.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Call for proposal
H2020-SFS-2020-2
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
75007 Paris Cedex 07
France
Participants (20)
75016 Paris
35650 Le Rheu
2905 AT Capelle Aan Den Ijssel
15705 Santiago De Compostela
1300-477 Lisboa
75020 Paris
08140 Caldes De Montbui Barcelona
75015 Paris
1000 Ljubljana
751 05 Uppsala
22960 Pledran
37380 Nouzilly
6641 SZ Beuningen Gld
1165 Kobenhavn
70599 Stuttgart
3012 Bern
50121 Florence
3584 CS Utrecht
10000 Zagreb
6708 PB Wageningen