Authors: Elena Prats, Lisa Black
CSIC, Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (IAS), Córdoba, Spain.
Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) Crossnacreevy, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.
Abstract
The harmonisation of Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) protocols across EU member states offers a transformative opportunity to streamline plant variety testing and enhance agricultural innovation. Historically, variations in VCU methodologies across countries have led to inconsistencies, inefficiencies, and barriers to market access for breeders. The InnoVar project proposes a harmonised system that integrates advanced technologies like genomics, phenomics, and machine learning to improve the precision, efficiency, and adaptability of VCU trials. Genomic markers enable targeted breeding by identifying genetic traits linked to desirable characteristics, while phenomic imaging, particularly through UAVs, provides detailed plant data for consistent and high-throughput assessments. Machine learning further optimises trial designs and accelerates variety recommendations by analysing complex datasets. Harmonisation promotes sustainability and resilience by evaluating varieties under various input conditions and across diverse agro-climatic zones, supporting the development of crops suited to low-input and organic systems. Despite these benefits, challenges such as resistance to change, technological integration, and regulatory alignment must be overcome. With coordinated efforts, the harmonisation of VCU protocols can enhance efficiency, innovation, and sustainability in European agriculture, positioning it to meet the demands of a rapidly changing environment.
Read the full Practice Abstract here.