Periodic Reporting for period 4 - InnoVar (Next generation variety testing for improved cropping on European farmland)
Période du rapport: 2023-10-01 au 2024-12-31
Agriculture is increasingly being urged to reduce its dependency on external inputs, lower its environmental footprint and cope with more variable climatic conditions. Plant breeding needs to evolve and take into account those characteristics that contribute to crop resilience vis-a-vis biotic and abiotic stresses. Innovations in breeding can be further promoted by increasing the robustness and efficacy of variety testing methods. Introducing ways to evaluate plant varieties for sustainability and resilience will benefit society by producing food that requires fewer inputs by promoting varieties that are better adapted to specific growing scenarios. This will create food production systems that are more efficient, sustainable and resilient. One way to approach this is to develop new methods into the two key statutory plant testing processes, DUS (Distinct, Uniform and Stable) and VCU (Value for Cultivation and Use). The aim of InnoVar was to look for ways to improve both DUS and VCU testing through introducing efficiency into the testing processes, evaluating how to measure sustainability and testing the concept of harmonisation of performance testing across Europe. InnoVar's key objectives were:
1. Identify crop characteristics and sustainability criteria which indicate the capacity of varieties to maintain yield under more variable conditions and more sustainable crop management practices,
2. Develop precise, rapid and automated methods for DUS testing,
3. Revise and develop VCU trialling processes that could also be applied across a wide geographic area,
4. Exploit synergies between DUS and VCU testing using genomics, phenomics, weather and soil data, and machine learning to set up databases and reference collections,
5. Apply the methods and techniques developed for wheat to other crop types,
6. Develop new tools for the evaluation and detection of variety characteristics, using genomic, phenomic and digital technologies, and
7. Analyse and review existing systems for providing and delivering information about varieties.
1. Identify crop characteristics and sustainability criteria which indicate the capacity of varieties to maintain yield under more variable conditions and more sustainable crop management practices,
2. Develop precise, rapid and automated methods for DUS testing,
3. Revise and develop VCU trialling processes that could also be applied across a wide geographic area,
4. Exploit synergies between DUS and VCU testing using genomics, phenomics, weather and soil data, and machine learning to set up databases and reference collections,
5. Apply the methods and techniques developed for wheat to other crop types,
6. Develop new tools for the evaluation and detection of variety characteristics, using genomic, phenomic and digital technologies, and
7. Analyse and review existing systems for providing and delivering information about varieties.
InnoVar set out to use wheat as a model crop, demonstrating how innovative testing methods could shape the future of plant variety evaluation across Europe. From the outset, the project worked across a broad landscape of activities, each building towards a more sustainable, efficient and forward‑looking system of plant variety testing.
Central to the project was strong coordination and a commitment to collaboration. A Stakeholder Platform brought together Plant Variety Testing Centres and Examination Offices, plant breeders, seed associations, agronomists, farmers, and academics, ensuring that insights, challenges and discoveries were shared widely and used to guide the work as it progressed.
A major early focus was defining crop characters and the genes underpinning them. This marked the beginning of an ambitious effort to generate an EU‑wide database of DUS and VCU data, collected from an extensive network of European trials. These trials were intentionally designed to push varieties beyond standard conditions, exposing them to abiotic and biotic stresses to better understand their resilience and sustainability. The resulting harmonised dataset—unique in both scope and depth—was then used to test predictive models for existing and new DUS and VCU characteristics.
Building on these foundations, the project explored new possibilities for innovation in DUS testing. Genomic and enviro‑genomic models developed earlier in the project were assessed for their ability to improve precision and efficiency. Genetic profiles offered a powerful new way to select reference varieties, and as the project entered its later stages, machine learning models were introduced to analyse the DUS data and uncover patterns that traditional approaches could not detect.
Innovation also extended to VCU testing. A series of trials carried out across Europe—and beyond—examined how plant protection products, drought and organic management practices influenced varietal performance. These trials created a rich resource of phenotypic, phenomic, climatic and soil data. From this, the project demonstrated how key traits and “sustainability criteria” could be identified, helping determine which varieties are best able to maintain yield under increasingly variable conditions and more sustainable management systems.
As the work progressed, the project turned to the question of scalability: how could the InnoVar approach, developed with wheat, be transferred to other crops? Through ongoing dialogue with stakeholders, the team explored this translation, identifying the steps required and the factors that would differ across crop species.
Looking ahead, InnoVar also sought to understand the wider needs of the European plant variety testing community, both during the project and in the years to come. This included ensuring that its outputs aligned with current EU testing requirements, identifying synergies between DUS and VCU methods, and considering how emerging technologies might shape the future landscape of plant variety testing.
Another major outcome was the development of a new decision‑making system for farmers. Using the High‑Performance Low‑Risk (HPLR) categorisation, the project produced a tool that helps farmers identify varieties offering strong performance with lower risk, including those falling within the HPLR‑Sustainable category—an approach that reflects growing interest in resilience and sustainability at farm level.
Throughout the project, communication and dissemination were prioritised. Findings were shared widely with stakeholders and the wider community, culminating in the Final Conference, Innovations towards sustainability in plant variety testing, a key event under the Horizon 2020 framework. This marked the culmination of InnoVar’s achievements and its contribution to shaping a more sustainable future for European plant variety testing.
Central to the project was strong coordination and a commitment to collaboration. A Stakeholder Platform brought together Plant Variety Testing Centres and Examination Offices, plant breeders, seed associations, agronomists, farmers, and academics, ensuring that insights, challenges and discoveries were shared widely and used to guide the work as it progressed.
A major early focus was defining crop characters and the genes underpinning them. This marked the beginning of an ambitious effort to generate an EU‑wide database of DUS and VCU data, collected from an extensive network of European trials. These trials were intentionally designed to push varieties beyond standard conditions, exposing them to abiotic and biotic stresses to better understand their resilience and sustainability. The resulting harmonised dataset—unique in both scope and depth—was then used to test predictive models for existing and new DUS and VCU characteristics.
Building on these foundations, the project explored new possibilities for innovation in DUS testing. Genomic and enviro‑genomic models developed earlier in the project were assessed for their ability to improve precision and efficiency. Genetic profiles offered a powerful new way to select reference varieties, and as the project entered its later stages, machine learning models were introduced to analyse the DUS data and uncover patterns that traditional approaches could not detect.
Innovation also extended to VCU testing. A series of trials carried out across Europe—and beyond—examined how plant protection products, drought and organic management practices influenced varietal performance. These trials created a rich resource of phenotypic, phenomic, climatic and soil data. From this, the project demonstrated how key traits and “sustainability criteria” could be identified, helping determine which varieties are best able to maintain yield under increasingly variable conditions and more sustainable management systems.
As the work progressed, the project turned to the question of scalability: how could the InnoVar approach, developed with wheat, be transferred to other crops? Through ongoing dialogue with stakeholders, the team explored this translation, identifying the steps required and the factors that would differ across crop species.
Looking ahead, InnoVar also sought to understand the wider needs of the European plant variety testing community, both during the project and in the years to come. This included ensuring that its outputs aligned with current EU testing requirements, identifying synergies between DUS and VCU methods, and considering how emerging technologies might shape the future landscape of plant variety testing.
Another major outcome was the development of a new decision‑making system for farmers. Using the High‑Performance Low‑Risk (HPLR) categorisation, the project produced a tool that helps farmers identify varieties offering strong performance with lower risk, including those falling within the HPLR‑Sustainable category—an approach that reflects growing interest in resilience and sustainability at farm level.
Throughout the project, communication and dissemination were prioritised. Findings were shared widely with stakeholders and the wider community, culminating in the Final Conference, Innovations towards sustainability in plant variety testing, a key event under the Horizon 2020 framework. This marked the culmination of InnoVar’s achievements and its contribution to shaping a more sustainable future for European plant variety testing.
InnoVar set out to transform the way variety testing is carried out in Europe, taking on the ambitious task of modernising long‑established procedures. By re‑examining the DUS and VCU protocols for both bread and durum wheat, the project not only updated these systems but also uncovered ways for them to work more efficiently together. This integration represents a clear step beyond current practice, offering a more streamlined and forward‑looking approach to variety evaluation.
One of InnoVar’s most significant achievements is the creation of a unique, standardised European database. For the first time, extensive genomic, phenomic, environmental and de novo crop data have been brought together from VCU and DUS trials conducted across many different regions of Europe. This resource stands apart in its scale and quality, enabling analyses that simply were not possible before and laying the foundation for more accurate predictions of how varieties will perform under a wide range of conditions.
Through this work, InnoVar has helped open the door to the introduction of new wheat varieties that offer higher and more stable yields, even when faced with increasingly variable biotic and abiotic pressures. Its integrated datasets allow breeders and testers to identify traits that respond to emerging challenges—whether driven by climate, pests, or market expectations—while still considering the economic realities faced by growers.
The deeper understanding of crop characteristics gained through the project sheds new light on how wheat varieties achieve resilience and resource‑use efficiency in diverse environments. At the same time, InnoVar has developed new experimental designs, analytical methods and tools that bring sustainability to the forefront of variety performance testing. These innovations will be valuable not only for breeders and researchers but also for regulatory bodies such as the Community Plant Variety Office, which now has a wider range of robust and validated tools to support DUS testing.
By improving the criteria and tools used to assess and predict variety performance across different pedo‑climatic and agronomic settings, InnoVar strengthens the reliability of selection decisions. Farmers, in turn, benefit from clearer and more dependable information to guide variety choice, helping them reduce risk and support more sustainable crop management.
Ultimately, InnoVar has demonstrated a practical pathway for embedding traits linked to resilience and sustainability directly into variety testing systems. By showing how testing can actively influence breeding priorities, the project points toward a future where new varieties require fewer inputs while still maintaining productivity. This shift brings tangible benefits not only to breeders, testers and growers, but also to society as a whole, supporting agricultural practices that are both environmentally responsible and fit for the challenges ahead.
One of InnoVar’s most significant achievements is the creation of a unique, standardised European database. For the first time, extensive genomic, phenomic, environmental and de novo crop data have been brought together from VCU and DUS trials conducted across many different regions of Europe. This resource stands apart in its scale and quality, enabling analyses that simply were not possible before and laying the foundation for more accurate predictions of how varieties will perform under a wide range of conditions.
Through this work, InnoVar has helped open the door to the introduction of new wheat varieties that offer higher and more stable yields, even when faced with increasingly variable biotic and abiotic pressures. Its integrated datasets allow breeders and testers to identify traits that respond to emerging challenges—whether driven by climate, pests, or market expectations—while still considering the economic realities faced by growers.
The deeper understanding of crop characteristics gained through the project sheds new light on how wheat varieties achieve resilience and resource‑use efficiency in diverse environments. At the same time, InnoVar has developed new experimental designs, analytical methods and tools that bring sustainability to the forefront of variety performance testing. These innovations will be valuable not only for breeders and researchers but also for regulatory bodies such as the Community Plant Variety Office, which now has a wider range of robust and validated tools to support DUS testing.
By improving the criteria and tools used to assess and predict variety performance across different pedo‑climatic and agronomic settings, InnoVar strengthens the reliability of selection decisions. Farmers, in turn, benefit from clearer and more dependable information to guide variety choice, helping them reduce risk and support more sustainable crop management.
Ultimately, InnoVar has demonstrated a practical pathway for embedding traits linked to resilience and sustainability directly into variety testing systems. By showing how testing can actively influence breeding priorities, the project points toward a future where new varieties require fewer inputs while still maintaining productivity. This shift brings tangible benefits not only to breeders, testers and growers, but also to society as a whole, supporting agricultural practices that are both environmentally responsible and fit for the challenges ahead.