Workpackages

WP1 – Mapping and assessing current situation

WP1 will develop the conceptual framework for the comparative analysis of the different organic fruit breeding innovation providers, will establish the national breeder groups, will define the key stakeholders at the national level and explore synergies with established networks (other breeding and variety evaluation initiatives, EIP Operational Groups,…). Specific objectives: (i) Initiate and organize the national organic fruit breeding innovation providers and testers group and define key stakeholders to be involved in the participatory approach at National and EU levels; (ii) Identify organic fruit breeding methods, tools, genetic resources, social / non-technological innovation data; (iii) Identify organic breeding needs and lack of knowledge; (iv) Analyse organic fruit breeding and organic fruit multiplication related policy; (v) Analyse gap between existing innovation and organic breeding needs; (vi) Identify and prioritize related traits in ideotype strategies

WP2 – New breeding & evaluation methodologies

Considering the traits to be integrated in Fruit variety organic agronomical value by OF-VTN, WP2 has the objective of carrying on research for: (i) maximizing breeding efficiency for the given traits, and (ii) optimizing the evaluation protocols for testing fruit cultivar. WP2 will develop innovative genetic and breeding tools, and implement OF-VTN evaluation strategies. Specific objectives: (i) Focused on breeding and genetics, and addressing the identification of markers associated defined traits not yet integrated by OF-VTN. (ii) Focused on the optimization of OF-VTN trait evaluation in order to increase the potential use for the end-users.

WP3 – Innovative phenotyping

WP3 has the objective to survey, develop and validate methods and protocols targeted onto Fruit organic upcoming challenges: climate, fruit quality and request of consumers, risks and emergences (pests and diseases), and to develop and integrate these inputs in a global OF-VTN multi-trait approach. WP3 addresses new prospective and mandatory traits. It will be based onto a robust phenotyping associated with a modelling approach followed by a large scale validation. Decision supporting systems, precision farming (sensors, position systems), agricultural robots, smart ICT methods for monitoring, digital phenotyping and participative open science will be integrated. Indicators and evaluation methods will be surveyed, developed, validated and applied onto a representative diversity, before being used for characterizing the available germplasms and the genetic components in contrasting situations. Specific objectives: WP3 has been subdivided in three tasks dealing with major challenges: • Climate change (T3.1) with a prospective climate risk assessment based on phenology • Indirect non-destructive assessment of Fruit quality traits to fulfil consumer’s expectations (T3.2) • Pests & diseases assessment (T3.3) for identifying the more resilient cultivars

WP4 – Integrative genetic resources utilisation

WP4 aims to define in a participative way of integrative Genetic Resources utilization based on (i) ongoing case studies in low input organic systems, which propose innovative material & methods, (ii) ideotypes proposed in WP1, and (iii), procedures and methodologies developed in WP2 and WP3 and WP5. WP4 will interconnect organic case studies acting in (i) evaluation and valorisation of under-utilized local old genetic resource (cultivars and landraces) and/or (ii) of pre-breeding and breeding material and/or (iii) of elite material and new varieties/rootstocks with levels of robustness, disease tolerance and quality. WP4 will implement protocols and methods which will be agreed upon in a participatory way for: • evaluation and characterization of under-utilized old Fruit-Tree Genetic Resources (FTGR); • testing the feasibility of direct use of some of the most performing genetic resources accessions in public-private partnerships (PPP); • implementing adapted screening methods in pre-breeding and breeding lines for selecting important and specific traits necessary in organic growing systems; • sharing data, genitors and pre-breeding material; • conducting organic fruit variety and rootstocks testing trials in formal and alternative ways (e.g. participative testing protocols under PPP).

WP5 – Social innovations

WP5 will provide sophisticated diagnostic tools, practical guides and a set of alternative strategic options to explain, evaluate, and enable the development of social innovations in the organic fruit breeding sector. Specific objectives: • Provide an operational and inclusive definition of social innovation in the organic fruit breeding sector; • Identify and measure the different characteristics and dimensions of social innovation at organic breeding and variety evaluation levels; • Explain how different modes of organization, marketing, governance and financing affect organic breeding and variety evaluation in the mid-term; • Identify the key divers (social, economic, environmental, institutional and others) contributing to unlocking social innovations in organic breeding and variety evaluation; • Provide guidelines and recommendations for a generic strategy/approach towards social innovation under different framework conditions (environmental, economic, political, etc.)

WP6 – Exploitation of results, business, and policy

The general objective of the WP6 is to identify the appropriate innovations for improving the performance of organic breeding and characterise their applicability and transferability within different contexts that influence their successful implementation. Implementation tools, as well as business and policy recommendations to implement innovative solutions will be generated for; (1) improved competitiveness and sustainability of organic breeding sector; (2) contributing to the framework necessary to boost the creation of new business opportunities of organic breeding in the EU; and (3) fostering the collaboration among organic breeding and production. Specific objectives: • Developing a procedure for innovation implementation, Identifying the bottlenecks and success factors of breeding innovation, Carrying out a feasibility and transferability study on the most significant innovations and methods to identify success factors for implementation. • Creation of tools and best practice guide to support the practical implementation of innovative solutions. • Creation of a best practice guide for the application of reference exploitation models, improving business performance. • Identification of legal and policy recommendations and strategies to overcome regulatory barriers.

WP7 – Dissemination, communication, training, collaboration and networking

WP7 aims to maximise the impact of the project’s results through effective knowledge exchange and communication with a wide range of relevant audiences (general audience/consumers, organic fruit breeding sector, policy makers and researchers/scientists). A dissemination plan will be developed at the beginning of the project. EU-wide activities will be carried out by CIHEAM. Each partner brings in his specific expertise in reaching the respective National stakeholder group and is involved by providing contents to the dissemination actions. Specific objectives: • Ensure that the information about the project’s objectives, approaches and results to target audiences according to the Dissemination and Communication Plan.

WP8 – Impact assessment and risk management

This WP aims at transversally monitoring project impacts and risks along with the project, making project results visible and valuable within a potential usability and exploitation context, in order to integrate them into innovations with a real socio-economic impact. The objective is to optimize project implementation, and to avoid technical and implementation risks, to maximize their positive repercussions on the sustainability of target sectors, ensuring that the proposed objectives and audiences (stakeholders, citizens, researchers and policy makers) are effectively reached.

WP9 – Coordination and management

The objective is to ensure timely overall technical, scientific and financial management and consortium coordination, including support to stakeholder/actor mobilisation/participation in project activity and liaising with European Commission. Specific objectives: • To ensure the creation of National stakeholder groups • To ensure and manage EU multi-stakeholder group • To ensure that the project performs successfully, that the activities are internally coordinated and that information/data are exchanged between WP groups • To generate and establish the consortium agreement and to ensure the protection of IPR within and outside the consortium; • To administer the budget, the project progress, regulating communication between the EC and the consortium and the reporting to the EU commission; • To ensure that the outcomes of the project are translated and transferred.