AGENT Project Concludes with Durable Tools for Future-Ready Genebanks
With the conclusion of the EU research project AGENT (Activated GEnebank NeTwork), a five-year period of coordinated research in the field of plant genetic resources (PGR) has come to an end. The project, funded under the Horizon 2020 programme, brought together 18 partners from across Europe to address the challenges of access, use, and data standardisation in genebank collections.
Innovation in Genetic Resource Management
Launched in 2020, AGENT aimed to establish a global network of genebanks to ensure the long-term availability of crop genetic diversity, and to make it readily usable for next-generation breeding efforts. Throughout the project’s duration, partners worked collaboratively to develop tools and methodologies for harmonised data collection and sharing, with the overarching goal of improving long-term conservation and facilitating targeted breeding efforts.
EURICE played a central role in supporting project management as well as communication and dissemination activities, driving innovation and ensuring sustainable uptake of results . “AGENT has demonstrated that making genetic resources better available and usable – ultimately to the benefit of mankind – is not just a scientific goal, but a societal imperative. By fostering collaboration and innovation, we’ve moved closer to unlocking the full value of our shared biodiversity for resilient food systems” said Nadine Drechoux from EURICE.
Achievements and Results
Over the course of the project duration, AGENT made significant strides in strengthening the use and management of PGR. Five Key Exploitable Results (KERs) were developed, forming the backbone of its long-term impact:
- Creating 'precision collections' – value-enriched, highly characterised genetic material with increased utility for breeders and researchers
- Deploying a user-friendly data portal linking phenotypic and genotypic data with cutting-edge visualisation and analysis capabilities
- Creating FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data curation tools and workflows, supporting standardised data management and reuse across genebanks
- Establishing the AGENT G genomic analysis pipeline, that enables predictive breeding analytics
- Launching a pan-European genebank phenotyping network (EVA Wheat & Barley), supporting ongoing multi-location evaluations for pre-breeding
Looking Forward: Sustainable Impact Beyond AGENT
While the AGENT project has officially concluded, the infrastructures, tools, and networks are designed to endure and evolve beyond the funding period. Continued collaboration will ensure long-term impact and support ongoing access to and development of genetic resource data.
“The AGENT legacy supports faster and more informed decisions in pre-breeding and research, ultimately contributing to more climate-resilient and nutritious crops. Its outcomes will empower the transition toward sustainable food systems, improved resource use efficiency, and long-term biodiversity conservation.” said Dr Sonja Bergner from EURICE.
The AGENT website will remain online as a central resource and information hub, providing access to project outcomes, tools and training materials .
