Meiotic Control of Recombination in Crops

Objective

The increasing growth of human population and the intrinsic increase in world pollution, together with the uncertain challenge of climate change will undeniably require an internationally sustained effort to meet the global food demand. An increase of food production by at least 50% has been projected to be necessary by 2050. Thus, Food Security is one of the most important challenges for the future. Classical plant breeding has been crucial to improve our crop species from the beginning of human civilizations until now. Classical plant breeding harnesses the natural genetic variation that is generated by meiotic recombination. During meiosis, new allele combinations are obtained which could confer new improved phenotypes. Nevertheless, plant breeders are reaching the limits of this methodology. These boundaries are intrinsically shaped by the restrictions on the frequency and distribution of meiotic recombination in the different crop species. In cereals, it has been estimated that 30-50% of genes rarely (if at all) recombine, limiting the genetic variation available to use by plant breeders. The MEICOM consortium has been designed to prepare future scientists, academics, plant breeders and policy makers in how to manipulate and control meiotic recombination in different crops (brassicas, wheats, barley, tomato, maize) and to provide a sustainable assurance on Food Security for the future. MEICOM is a network of the finest European Plant Meiosis Researchers with internationally acclaimed industrial partners to gain knowledge and transfer it into our training programme and the general public.

Fields of science

• natural sciences › biological sciences › genetics and heredity › heredity
• agricultural sciences › agriculture, forestry, and fisheries › agriculture › agronomy › plant breeding
• engineering and technology › other engineering and technologies › food and beverages › food safety

Programme(s)

• H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
• H2020-EU.1.3.1. - Fostering new skills by means of excellent initial training of researchers

Topic(s)

• MSCA-ITN-2017 - Innovative Training Networks

Call for proposal

H2020-MSCA-ITN-2017
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

MSCA-ITN-ETN - European Training Networks

Coordinator

THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM

Address

Edgbaston
B15 2TT Birmingham
United Kingdom

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

EU contribution

€ 273 287,88

Participants (11)

UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

United Kingdom

EU contribution

€ 273 287,88

Address

University Road
LE1 7RH Leicester

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

THE CHANCELLOR MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

United Kingdom

EU contribution

€ 273 287,88

Address

Trinity Lane The Old Schools
CB2 1TN Cambridge

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

INSTITUT NATIONAL DE RECHERCHE POUR L'AGRICULTURE, L'ALIMENTATION ET L'ENVIRONNEMENT

France

EU contribution

€ 262 875,60

Address

147 Rue De L'universite
75007 Paris Cedex 07

Activity type

Research Organisations

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS

France

EU contribution

€ 262 875,60

Address

Rue Michel Ange 3
75794 Paris

Activity type

Other

UNIVERSIDAD COMPLUTENSE DE MADRID

Spain

EU contribution

€ 247 872,96

Address

Avenida De Seneca 2
28040 Madrid

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

UNIVERSITEIT VAN AMSTERDAM

Netherlands

EU contribution

€ 255 374,28

Address

Spui 21
1012WX Amsterdam

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY

Netherlands

EU contribution

€ 255 374,28

Address

Droevendaalsesteeg 4
6708 PB Wageningen

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

KARLSRUHER INSTITUT FUER TECHNOLOGIE

Germany

EU contribution

€ 249 216,48

Address

Kaiserstrasse 12
76131 Karlsruhe

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

LEIBNIZ - INSTITUT FUER PFLANZENGENETIK UND KULTURPFLANZENFORSCHUNG

Germany

EU contribution

€ 249 216,48

Address

Correnstrasse 3
06466 Seeland Ot Gatersleben

Activity type

Research Organisations

UNIVERSITAET HAMBURG

Germany

EU contribution

€ 249 216,48

Address

Mittelweg 177
20148 Hamburg

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

UNIVERSITAT WIEN

Austria

EU contribution

€ 255 934,08

Address

Universitatsring 1
1010 Wien

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

Partners (7)

KWS UK Ltd

United Kingdom

Address

Thriplow

Activity type

Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)

SESVANDERHAVE

Belgium

Address

Industriepark,15,
3300 Tienen

Activity type

Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)

Meiogenix

France

Address

Paris

Activity type

Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)

NIAB Innovation Farm

United Kingdom

Address

Cambridge

Activity type

Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)

Nikon Instruments UK

United Kingdom

Address

Kingston Upon Thames

Activity type

Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)

BIOVEGEN

Spain

Address

Madrid

Activity type

Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)

BAYER CROPSCIENCE NV

Belgium

Address

J.e. Mommaertslaan 14
1831 Diegem Machelen

Activity type

Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)