Objectives

General objectives of IMAGE

The aim of IMAGE is to enhance the use of genetic collections and to upgrade animal gene bank management. IMAGE will further develop genomic methodologies, biotechnologies, and bioinformatics for a better knowledge and exploitation of animal genetic resources.

The ultimate goal of the project is to demonstrate the benefits brought by gene banks to the development of more sustainable livestock farming systems, in particular by:

• Enhancing the usefulness of genetic collections to allow the livestock sector to respond to new environmental constraints and market needs;
• Minimising genetic accidents such as abnormalities or genetic variability tipping points;
• Optimising complementarity between ex-situ and in-situ conservation to maximise resources for the future;
• Making use of the latest developments in DNA technology and reproductive physiology in collecting, storing and using biological resources.

Specific objectives of IMAGE

To reach its overall goal, the project will pursue and achieve the following scientific and technological objectives:

• At the scientific level, the project will develop methods and set up case studies to answer the following main questions:
  • What is the genetic diversity, either between or within breeds, available in genetic collections? Which part of it is not present in the mainstream livestock breeds dominating global food production?
  • Which adaptive traits can be identified through landscape genetics in local populations? How do gene banks help to elucidate the history of local populations and the history of major genes?
  • Which potentially detrimental variants can contribute to inbreeding depression?
  • Can we better predict the reproductive performance of cryobank samples to enable their effective use?
  • Can we facilitate the effective use of samples in breeding by novel genome-assisted methods and tools?
• At the technological level, it will design, develop and test or implement:
  • Procedures for harmonising gene bank operations and rationalising existing collections, for reproductive and biological materials;
  • Conservation and reproductive biotechnologies;
  • Bioinformatics tools to connect available data on germplasm and genomic collections in a central hub.
• At the applied level, it will design, develop and test methods and tools for stakeholders in order to:
  • Restore genetic diversity in livestock populations;
  • Define and track breed-based product brands;
  • Create or reconstruct breeds fitting new environmental constraints and consumer demands;
  • Facilitate cryobanking for local breeds, particularly regarding sanitary regulations;
  • Demonstrate the use of comprehensive, species-wide comparisons of diversity parameters by integrating existing information sources;
  • Implement access and benefit sharing (ABS) regulations.