Harnessing the power of genomics to protect Europe’s biodiversity

Expanding Europe’s DNA Barcoding Capacity for Biodiversity – IBOL Europe DNA barcoding is an essential component of our technological toolkit for effective species discovery, identification, and monitoring in the face of the ongoing biodiversity and climate crises. However, national capacity for its implementation remains limited, and the barcode reference libraries underpinning its use remain incomplete, particularly in Europe’s most biodiverse regions. The Biodiversity Genomics Europe project (BGE, 2023-26) addressed these challenges by supporting new national

Supporting the whole-genome research community through ERGA Producing a reference genome, a detailed map of a species’ DNA, can take years of fieldwork, laboratory experiments, and computer analysis. Its value also depends on what happens afterwards. Researchers need shared standards to assess data quality, places to exchange expertise, and the means to apply genomic information to questions in conservation, agriculture, and ecosystem management. BGE+ will support this wider research community through the European Reference Genome

Biodiversity Genomics Europe is back… with a plus! The Naturalis Biodiversity Center, coordinator of BGE+, hosted the project’s inaugural meeting between June 3rd – 5th, 2026 in Leiden, The Netherlands. The meeting included plenary sessions, parallel break-out sessions, and meetings of the project’s governance bodies – General Assembly, Executive Board, and External Expert Advisory Board. Keynote talk: Do not grow in isolation. Complementarity is crucial Christos Arvanitidis, CEO of LifeWatch ERIC, gave the keynote speech, titled