Project overview

IMAGE strategy

IMAGE focuses on genetic collections in gene banks (ex situ in vitro) rather than on live population management (in situ in vivo). However, the synergy between gene banks and live population management is a crucial issue that will be addressed by the project.

Expected achievements

The project will result in the following achievements:

1. Conservation and management of genetic collections:
   • Improved quality of collections and enhanced accessibility of collection information;
   • Upgraded sampling criteria and shared sampling rules across Europe for new collections;
   • Development and strengthening of the European Genebank Network for Animal Genetic Resources (EUGENA) supported by the FAO’s European Regional Focal Point on animal genetic resources;
   • Novel protocols and procedures for biological sample preservation;
   • Harmonised protocols for exchange and access to genetic resources;
   • New genomic knowledge about local breeds and novel methods to value their adaptive traits.
2. Exploitation of genetic collections
   • An integrated database connecting genomic information to genetic collections along with search and analysis tools;
   • Guidelines and recommendations to help livestock actors make their decisions;
   • Tools for genomic-assisted introgression of genetic material from collections to live populations;
   • A demonstration of genomic-assisted introgression in biodiversity restoration;
   • A demonstration of the role played by genetic traceability in promoting local breeds;
   • A demonstration of gene banks’ usefulness to retrospectively assess genetic changes in livestock breeds.

Image Workpackages

WP1 - Multi actor participation and knowledge exchange

Leader: Johann Soelkner (BOKU)

Email: johann.soelkner@boku.ac.at 

Participants: BOKU, WR, EFFAB, INRA, FAO, Corpoica, APRI, INRA-M, INTA, LTZ, NordGen, SRUC, SAVE.

WP2- Enhancing gene bank functioning to improve quality and access transparency

Leader: Sipke-Joost Hiemstra (WR)

Email: sipkejoost.hiemstra@wur.nl

Participants: WR, FAO, NordGen, APRI, BOKU, Corpoica, FLI, HáGK, UCM, INRA-M, INTA, PTP, SGGW, SRUC, ULISBOA, IDELE.

WP3- Improving reproductive technologies for gene banking

Leader: Elisabeth Blesbois (INRA)

Email: elisabeth.blesbois@inra.fr 

Participants: INRA, INIA, PTP, HáGK.

WP4- Innovative genomic characterisation for better evaluation of genetic collections

Leader: Hendrik-Jan Megens (WU)

Email: hendrik-jan.megens@wur.nl

Participants: WU, INIA, FLI, WU, INRA-M, BOKU, UCSC, INTA, PTP.

WP5- Information system for data integration and data sharing

Leader: Alessandra Stella (PTP)

Email: stella@ibba.cnr.it

Participants: PTP, EPFL, INRA, WU, EMBL.

WP6- Sustainable and innovative use of genetic collections

Leader: Henner Simianer (UGOE)

Email: hsimian@gwdg.de

Participants: UGOE, FLI, UED, NordGen, FAO, LTZ, UCM, Corpoica, INRA.

WP7- Outreach

Leader: Luís Telo da Gama (ULisboa)

Email: ltgama@fmv.ulisboa.pt

Participants: ULISBOA, BOKU, WR, INRA, WU, PTP, UGOE, UCM, EFFAB, FAO, APRI, Corpoica, EFPL, INRA-M.

WP8- Consortium coordination and project management

Leader: Michèle Tixier-Boichard (INRA, IMAGE coordinator)

Email: michele.tixier-boichard@inra.fr

Participants: ALL PARTNERS.

Geographical representation