INCREASE project concludes with new tools and citizen-driven approaches to safeguard Europe’s crop diversity

EU-funded research delivers advanced insights on genetic resources, an open data platform and a large-scale citizen science experiment to strengthen the conservation and sustainable use of food legumes.

After six years of research and international collaboration, the EU-funded project INCREASE – Intelligent Collections of Food Legumes Genetic Resources for European Agrofood Systems has successfully concluded, delivering new knowledge, tools and participatory approaches to improve the conservation and sustainable use of food legume genetic resources in Europe. Funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, the project brought together 25 partners from 12 countries to unlock the genetic potential of four important food legumes: chickpea, common bean, lentil and lupin. By combining advanced genomics, large-scale field experiments, a digital data platform and a pioneering citizen science experiment, INCREASE has created a strong foundation for safeguarding crop diversity and supporting more resilient and sustainable agri-food systems. It is particularly important to note that food legumes are plant-based proteins and can therefore serve as substitutes for meat.

Making crop diversity easier to study and use

One of the central achievements of the project is the development of “Intelligent Collections”, carefully selected subsets of genetic resources designed to represent the diversity stored in gene banks while making it easier for researchers and breeders to analyse and utilise this diversity.

Across the four target crops, these collections combine genetic diversity, harmonised phenotypic data and genomic information, enabling researchers to better understand important traits such as yield potential, nutritional quality and stress tolerance.

For example, the project generated around 8,000 genetically stable common bean lines, supported by extensive genomic sequencing and multi-location field experiments across Europe. These resources allow scientists and breeders to more efficiently identify valuable genetic traits and develop improved crop varieties adapted to changing environmental conditions. This is also particularly relevant to the project’s lupin research, given that the crop has now been characterised so comprehensively for the first time.

Discovery of genetic factors behind key traits and how crops can cope with climate change

Using advanced “-omics” technologies, the INCREASE project has identified important genetic regions in several food legumes, with some findings already confirmed through further research. For instance, in chickpea, researchers found regions linked to tolerance to drought; in lentil, genes that help plants adapt to high-altitude conditions; and in common bean, genes that provide resistance to diseases.

By combining these insights with newly developed statistical methods, scientists can also pinpoint genes whose effects depend on environmental conditions. This knowledge can be fed into predictive models that use genomic data to identify which plant varieties are best suited to specific environments—helping farmers choose crops that will perform well both today and under future climate conditions.

Citizen science driving a new conservation model

A distinctive and highly visible element of the INCREASE project was its large-scale Citizen Science Experiment, which directly involved thousands of citizens in growing, studying and conserving common bean varieties.

Participants across Europe cultivated bean lines in gardens, schools and urban spaces, recording plant traits and observations through a dedicated mobile application developed within the project. The initiative attracted remarkable public interest: more than 27,000 citizens registered to participate across six growing seasons and hundreds of schools joined the experiment, helping raise awareness among younger generations about agrobiodiversity and sustainable agriculture.

Beyond collecting scientific data, the Citizen Science Experiment tested a new decentralised model for conserving plant genetic resources. Through the Standard Material Transfer Agreement (SMTA) enabling traceable seed exchange and clear legal frameworks, such as the "Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture" hosted by The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, participants helped establish a decentralised conservation community, complementing traditional gene banks and expanding the network of actors involved in safeguarding crop diversity.

The Citizen Science Experiment received international recognition and was awarded the EU Prize for Citizen Science in 2024.

Strong collaboration with stakeholders

Another key pillar of the project was the INCREASE Stakeholder Consortium, bringing together more than 150 members belonging to research institutions, gene banks, breeding companies, agricultural networks and other related organisations

Stakeholders actively contributed to evaluating, multiplying and using genetic materials developed within the project. Structured core collections were distributed to research organisations and breeding programmes, supporting new trait studies, breeding populations and field trials.

The network also strengthened connections with initiatives such as the EVA Legume Networks, helping ensure that the genetic resources and knowledge generated by INCREASE continue to be used and developed beyond the project’s duration.

Open data supporting future research and innovation

To maximise accessibility and long-term impact, the project developed the INCREASE Web Portal, a central platform providing open access to passport, phenotypic and genomic data for food legume genetic resources.

The portal enables researchers, breeders and other stakeholders to explore datasets, visualise genetic diversity and analyse experimental data through integrated tools. By following international data standards and FAIR principles, the platform helps transform project outputs into findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable research resources.

Prof. Roberto Papa, Scientific Coordinator of the INCREASE project at the Università Politecnica delle Marche, highlighted the importance of combining scientific innovation with societal engagement: “INCREASE has demonstrated that conserving crop genetic resources is not only a scientific challenge but also a societal one. By combining advanced genomics with citizen participation and strong stakeholder collaboration, we have created new tools and communities that can help safeguard agrobiodiversity and support sustainable food systems in Europe.

Lasting impact beyond the project

The outcomes of INCREASE will continue to support gene banks, researchers, breeders and farmers, providing valuable genetic resources and knowledge for crop improvement, climate adaptation and sustainable agriculture.

Building on the success of the citizen science experiment, the Diversitas association has been established to explore opportunities for continuing the decentralised conservation community and participatory research activities beyond the project’s lifetime.

For more on the INCREASE project results, please visit here!