Project

To face human population growth, increasing environmental constraints and changes in socio-cultural values, animal breeding must evolve toward a more sustainable model that guarantees production while promoting efficient resource use, animal health and welfare, and preserving genetic diversity. Thanks to recent developments in omics technologies, it is now possible to rethink breeding, taking advantage of improved knowledge on genome-to-phenome relationships that accounts for both genetic and non-genetic mechanisms controlling traits.

GEroNIMO works on chicken and pig, the most used sources of animal protein worldwide, to provide breeders with new knowledge and tools to promote innovative genome- and epigenome enabled selection methods for traits related to production (quantity and quality), efficiency, productive longevity, fertility, resilience and welfare.

GEroNIMO also proposes demand-driven innovation employing a multiactor approach through the involvement of breeders, professional associations of animal production, and scientists, engaged from the planning phase to the dissemination of results over Europe.

GEroNIMO is building on existing academic and commercial knowledge and is analyzing large populations to quantify the contribution of genetic and epigenetic variation in gene expression, trait variation and trade-offs between traits.

GEroNIMO will also propose a comprehensive and enhanced characterization of diversity by integrating epigenetic diversity into conservation purposes, corresponding to a new integrated conservation strategy.

Outcome & Organisation

GEroNIMO is organised in 7 workpackages, from research (WPs 1 to 5), multi-actor governance, dissemination and transfer (WP6) to management (WP7).

WP1 is specifically focusing on the genetics and epigenetics underpinning efficient livestock production (ELP) traits. WP2 elucidates the impact of environmental effects and selection on epigenetic variation. In WP3 the focus is on the management of biodiversity by using phenotypic, genetic and epigenetic information.

These three work packages provide valuable input for WP4 and WP5. WP4 aims at developing and validating innovative methods to improve selection strategies integrating environmental and non-genetic inherited factors, including epigenetic profiles, for ELP traits in chicken and pig. In WP5 the societal and ethical challenges that the use of genomic innovations in animal production rises are being addressed using an integrated approach.

WP6 is in charge of knowledge transfer and exchange, outreach and capacity building. This means that the work package ensures effective communication and dissemination of the project to stakeholders and end-users and facilitates knowledge exchange and capacity building.

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