Democratising DNA barcoding
By Kasia Fantoni
OPENBAR – Open Barcoding for All Researchers is a Biodiversity Genomics Europe plus initiative to democratise DNA barcoding across taxa, regions, and research scales through standardised solutions.
Third-generation sequencing technologies have enabled ultra-low-cost, high-throughput DNA barcoding using portable platforms such as the ONT MinION. However, technical and financial barriers still limit widespread adoption of decentralised workflows. OPENBAR will consolidate, benchmark, and expand proven protocols to democratise DNA barcoding across taxa, regions, and research scales through standardised yet flexible solutions. OPENBAR aims to develop a comprehensive, modular resource covering end-to-end workflows from DNA extraction to sequencing and bioinformatics.
Join BGE+ mailing list (scroll down to the end of this page) to be up to date with OPENBAR initiatives.
In this initial phase of OPENBAR, BGE+ partners are running a survey to get an overview of user needs for scaling up distributed DNA (meta) barcoding in Europe and will host the OPENBAR Community Forum (online) on 15 September 2026 – you can register here.
For more information about OPENBAR and general inquiries, please contact Emily Hartop: emily.hartop@ntnu.no