Biodiversity Genomics Europe
Europe’s drive to reverse biodiversity loss through genomics research.
AN OVERARCHING MISSION…
The Biodiversity Genomics Europe (BGE) project has the overriding aim of accelerating the use of genomic science to enhance understanding of biodiversity, monitor biodiversity change, and guide interventions to address its decline.
… WITH AN OVERARCHING APPROACH:
To support its delivery, BGE will bring together two newly formed networks: BIOSCAN Europe, which focuses on DNA barcoding, and the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA), which focuses on genome sequencing.
SCALING UP GENOMIC SCIENCE
BGE will tackle three fundamental task: Improving the capacity, production and application of biodiversity genomics in Europe. That translates into a set of fundamental goals. See a brief description of them here.
PROJECT PREMISE
One in four known species are threatened with extinction worldwide. Addressing this global biodiversity crisis requires an understanding of the diversity of life on Earth, how it functions and interacts, and how it responds to different environmental pressures. Time is of the essence.
Two key strands of genomic science have revealed themselves as crucial for addressing this complex challenge: large-scale DNA barcoding and large-scale genome sequencing. Both strands make up the pillars of BGE. Know more.
BGE TO WATCH
Dimitris Koureas, BGE Director on the non-strictly scientific impact of BGE:
“BGE is a mechanism through which we can go out from the limitations of national investments in genomics and into the European level”
Peter Hollingsworth, BGE deputy director (DNA Barcoding stream) on BGE’s challenges:
“As environmental change puts pressure on species, it is really important to understand how they are likely to respond to environmental pressures”
Camila Mazzoni, BGE deputy director (Genome Sequencing stream) on the application of genomics for biodiversity protection and restoration:
“Genomics has already revolutionize our lives with the Human Genome. Now, we are capable of revolutionizing what we know and can do for biodiversity, using the same technology”
Robert Waterhouse, BGE Joint Network Activities Coordinator on how BGE brings together the BIOSCAN Europe and European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) communities:
“If we are going to achieve the kind of scaling up that we want to achieve, we need to learn from each other, even if we have existed in parallel for some time”
Mark Blaxter, BGE Genome Sequencing Work Package leader on the importance of reference genomes:
“By doing a reference genome where we capture everything, everything becomes accessible for questioning. It tells us where we should focus our science”.
BGE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE…
- By establishing the European Nodes of iBOL (BIOSCAN Europe) and EBP (ERGA).
- By building comprehensive barcode reference libraries for European pollinators and key indicator species for freshwater and marine biomonitoring.
- By producing reference genomes from 350-500 species assembled and annotated and publicly available.
- By establishing and implementing protocols harmonising DNA biomonitoring and assessments of genome wide diversity in taxa and systems.
BGE’s EUROPEAN STRENGTH
Biodiversity Genomics Europe brings together two continental-wide networks involving more than 200 European organisations. They are represented in the project by more than 30 participating partners across 20 countries.
BGE IN NUMBERS
Start Date:
End Date:
Number of Partners:
Number of Countries:
1 September 2022
28 February 2026
33
20
