GENOBU - Water buffalo genome sequencing for the quali-quantitative improvement of agrifood productions

GENOBU is an original, innovative and multidisciplinary project combining genome sequencing of the water buffalo to the healthiness of animals and the improvement of quality and quantity of buffalo food products. The project will develop know-how and innovative process technologies to be provided to breeders and agro-food industry, with the objectives of optimizing the efficiency in milk processing, and to ensure best nutraceutical value to buffalo foods.

ARGENTO

ARGENTO project aims at introducing in Italy the new multipurpose oil crop, camelina (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz), as a valuable source of healthy oil (rich in omega-3) and proteins for animal feeding. Therefore, during this project it will be evaluate the effects of the agronomic management in response to different environments on the final seed quality of newly released camelina lines aiming at optimizing camelina seed qualitative traits for poultry feeding (i.e., quails). In parallel to the optimization of the agronomic management a deep study of the biosynthetic pathway of the glucosinolates (GLSs, antinutritional compound)  and also a reduction in GLS content will be carried out by genome editing technologies that enable precise manipulation at a desired location within the genome.

CASTADIVA-Biodiversity and multifunctionality of the chestnut tree. Valorization of genetic resources for the development of Lombardy sub mountain areas

Over the centuries, the chestnut tree, cultivated for its fruits and timber, has become an essential element of subsistence for many societies in mountain and sub-mountainous areas, revealing its potential as a multifunctional species. However, today a large part of chestnut forests is in a state of degradation and abandonment, mainly due to the depopulation of rural areas, global climate change and recent outbreaks of exotic pests. With a view to the recovery and enhancement of chestnut genetic resources, the CASTADIVA project mainly aims to:

• map the chestnut areas of pilot areas in the Lombardy Region (chestnut groves in the Municipality of Serle, BS and in the Varese Prealps, VA);
• evaluate the genetic diversity of chestnut woods, genetically characterize local varieties
• to characterize the fruits from a morphological, pomological, qualitative and nutritional point of view
• integrate data obtained from genetic and morphometric analysis with ecological, silvicultural, phytosanitary and possibly socio-economic data;
• identify the best practices and management criteria for the conservation and enhancement of chestnut genetic resources to be applied in the areas of greatest interest; transfer information to local administrations and the agricultural world.

Genotyping of the Landolt Duckweed Collection

The project is aimed at the genotyping, through plastid and nuclear molecular markers (TBP), of the whole collection of small aquatic macrophytes (Lemnaceae) known under the name of Landolt Duckweed Collection and currently managed by Dr Lammler in Zurich. This historical collection, the largest in Europe, includes about 500 clones of the 36 known duckweed species, coming from five continents. Accessions have been mostly characterized on a morphological basis, which may cause a high rate of misclassifications in some species, owing to the simplified structure of these tiny plants and the high similarity between some species.

Since long used as environmental bioindicators, duckweeds and renowned for their phytoremediation capacity. Due to their extraordinary fast growth, duckweeds are one of the most promising new crops, under intensive study for energy production and as a source of high quality proteins for animal and human nutrition, already under evaluation as a novel food by EFSA.

Results will be useful to:

• ascertain the classification of all clones, many of which are under study in many laboratories worldwide
• evaluating inter and intraspecific biodiversity
• contribute to duckweed taxonomy
• understanding duckweed evolution.

BRIDGES - Building Reflexivity and response-ability Involving Different narratives of knowledGE and Science

The complexity of the current global socio-ecological crisis highlights the limits of specialist science as the only voice capable of informing decisions. In the contemporary scenario, where the facts are uncertain, the values in contrast and the stakes are high, the social contract between science, society and politics is in a phase of profound transformation. To face this change, the scientific community has to revisit its social role, creating new relationships not only with society but also with ecological systems, to generate responsible research practices capable of producing relevant knowledge. BRIDGES is a social research project that develops trans-disciplinary and participatory research methods to strengthen the relationship between science, society and ecological systems in the Italian context. To do this, it uses as a case study a specific complex socio-ecological issue, very relevant in Italy: soil fertility.

BIODIVAL - Biodiversità in Lombardia: Ampliamento della Banca delle Risorse Genetiche Animali Lombarde, LABank 2.0

The focus of the project is the conservation and enhancement of a still little known Lombard biodiversity, which risks being lost even before being studied. The project has the following three objectives:

1) expansion of the Lombard Genetic Resources Bank – LABank – launched in 2008, with the addition of new breeds and with the increase of the genetic material of those already present. At the end of the project, LABank 2.0 will be created as a result of the expansion of LABank;

2) creation of the second LABank 2.0 site, to minimize the risk associated with any “catastrophic” events, in accordance with the “FAO Guidelines” (Cryoconservation of animal genetic resources. Animal Production and Health Guidelines No. 12. Complete Book. FAO, Rome p. 222., 2012), with the Piano Nazionale per la Biodiversità di interesse Agricolo (PNBA), emanato dal Ministero delle Politiche Agricole, Alimentari e Forestali e approvato il 14 Febbraio 2008;

3) to develop tools for easy management and enhancement of their breeds, as an important part of the Lombard indigenous animal biodiversity, also in order to preserve and enhance the agro-ecosystems linked to them.

BIO-MEMORY

The project is organized in 3 main activities:

1) Implementation and updating of the BioGenRes network of biobanks, with a focus on nationally/internationally recognized collections of animal, plant or microorganism species samples (animal and plant germplasm banks, microbial strain libraries of pathogenic/toxigenic organisms, nematodes, soil and water microflora and microorganisms used in agro-industry and food (e.g. microbial starters for fermentations)).

2) Replication (rejuvenation) and expansion of material stored in collections. For plant and microbial collections: multiplication of accessions for which a small amount of material is available and rejuvenation of accessions whose seed viability data are below the expected standards (> 85%). For animal collections of zootechnical interest: collection and freezing of genetic material of local breeds to complete sampling carried out in previous projects or expansion of the number of species and breeds stored in cryobanks.

3) Biochemical, molecular, metabolic, functional and phenotypic characterization of the material conserved in the biobanks of the BioGenRes network, also in order to carry out association studies and to identify markers associated with traits linked to production and/or adaptation to biotic and abiotic stress factors.

BIO4VERBA - Safeguarding the biodiversity of the local Verzaschese and Bionda dell'Adamello goat breeds: enhancing their production and creating an ex-situ genetic reserve

BIO4VERBA project arises from the need of the breeders of the Verzaschese and Bionda dell’Adamello goat breeds to preserve and enhance their local breeds and the relative products.

BIO4VERBA has the following objectives:

1. to expand the Lombardia Farm Animal Genetic Resources Cryobank – LABank – launched in 2008 with the addition of the Bionda dell’Adamello breed and the increasing of the genetic material of the Verzaschese breed, already present in the LABank;
2. to characterize the milk of the two breeds (fat and protein composition, somatic cells content, fatty acids and terpenes, milk fat globule size, milk-coagulation time and microbiota composition);
3. analyze the “qualitative” contribution made by the milk of the Verzaschese breed in the production of Formaggella del Luinese PDO compared to the other cosmopolitan breeds, evaluating the microbiota and volatilome through an innovative approach (Next Generation Sequencing-Microextraction in Solid Phase Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry);
4. to characterize the Fatulì of the Saviore Valley at microbiome and volatilome levels for its enhancement;

5.     Support breeders who prefer grazing, through a characterization of their products (Formaggella del Luinese PDO and Fatulì of the Saviore Valley) that allow to identify the contribution of grazing to the sensorial cheese properties (characteristics of cheeses).

CASTANEVAL - Chestnut culture in Lombardy: leveraging native genetic resources

The CASTANEVAL project intends to respond to the need for scientific knowledge on Lombardy chestnut genetic resources in order to provide tools for the leverage and conservation of native germplasm and to undertake actions for the management recovery of chestnut groves. The pilot study areas are the chestnut groves in the municipality of Serle (BS) and in the Varese Pre-Alps (VA) The CASTANEVAL project aims also to develop a chestnut micropropagation system in order to offer a concrete, sustainable and economical tool for the conservation and multiplication of native germplasm of high local interest. The project will also study the ecological context and the degree of naturalness of the stands, from wild to coppice and cultivated varieties. A complete characterisation of the chestnut genetic resources in the areas under consideration will result from the integration of genetic, morphological, ecological and production data.

TRANSFER - Characterization and enhancement of historical lombard corn and wheat varieties

The adoption of agronomic practices aimed at maximizing production yields led, during the 20th century, to a drastic change in the characteristics of cultivated varieties toward specific characteristics of the final product and plant architecture.

So-called “old” varieties are sometimes considered capable of providing productions with better quality, organoleptic and health characteristics than those provided by modern varieties bred under intensive agronomic conditions.

The TRANFER project aims at the valorization of historical maize and wheat varieties typical of the Lombardy region through molecular, biochemical and phenotypic approaches. In particular, traits of interest related to resistance to fungal pathogens, characterization of seed morphology and nutraceutical qualities will be studied.

TRANFER will provide information on the diversity that exists in Lombardy’s germplasm collections for its valorisation and use in local production

ANASB BIG: Italian Mediterranean Buffalo - Innovative Technologies for Genetic Improvement

The project aims at the genetic improvement of innovative traits related to resistance/resilience to diseases (brucellosis, tuberculosis, paratuberculosis, transverse hemimelia), environmental sustainability (food efficiency, atmospheric emissions ), quality of productions (cheese making), enhancement of meat production as a secondary product (for example muscularity and Body Condition Score) as well as the maintenance of genetic variability of the Italian Mediterranean buffalo breed through inbreeding control and the creatio of a biobank of both male semen and embryos.

ANACLI I-BEEF 2 Italian Biodiversity Environment Efficiency and Fitness 2

The I-BEEF project aims not only to improve the breeding plan of the Italian Limousine and Charolaise breeds by adapting it to the new sustainability and environmental selection criteria, but also to speed up the genomic characterization of 6 autochthonous beef genetic types (TGA), namely: Calvana, Mucca Pisana, Pontremolese, Sarda, Sardo Bruna, Sardo Modicana. The main objectives are biodiversity conservation and inbreeding control

ASSONAPA SHEEP&GOAT - Sustainability Health Environment Economy Profitability & Genomic Organisation Animal (pheno)Typing

The SHEEP&GOAT project aims to introduce a series of actions related to the collection and use of phenotypic and molecular data in the Italian sheep and goat farming industry, with the goal of making the breeding sustainable and competitive, and contributing to the preservation and management of its rich biodiversity.

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SUS-MIRRI.IT - Strengthening the MIRRI Italian Research Infrastructure for Sustainable Bioscience and Bioeconomy

The Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure (MIRRI) is the pan-European infrastructure in charge of preservation, analysis, supply and exploitation of microbial resources and biodiversity. The project SUS-MIRRI.IT aims to develop research, services and training within the Italian network of culture collections MIRRI-IT, which will preserve biological diversity, collect and store data associated with microorganisms, carry on research and provide external users with support and services related to microbial resources. The optimised management of the bioresources at the MIRRI-IT Research Infrastructure, coupled with the digital platform and data handling/sharing strategy will allow the exploitation of microbial biodiversity and provide innovative solutions and products of biotechnological interest, stimulating the bio- and circular economy.