Partner Expertise: Plant Genetic Resources for Organic Intercropping

CARC Olomouc is interested in joining a Horizon Europe consortium preparing a proposal under this topic, contributing our expertise in plant genetic resources, biodiversity research, phytochemistry and metabolomics. We are seeking partners to develop a Horizon Europe project that uses plant genetic diversity to improve organic crop breeding and identify varieties specifically adapted to intercropping. Most existing crop varieties were selected for monoculture, and their performance in mixed cropping systems is insufficiently characterized. The proposed project would investigate which plant traits and genotype combinations improve crop complementarity, yield stability, resource-use efficiency and resilience, while maintaining nutritional and phytochemical quality.

The scientific concept focuses on intercropping combinations involving vegetables and legumes, with potential inclusion of selected medicinal and aromatic plants where agronomically justified. We propose to assess how genetic variation influences interactions between crops, including differences in growth habit, phenology, competition for light and nutrients, water use, resistance or tolerance to pests and diseases, and responses to environmental stresses. Specific crop combinations and field-trial designs would be co-developed with organic breeders and growers.

CARC is a public research institution headquartered in Prague. Its Genetic Resources of Vegetables and Special Crops team is located in Olomouc and maintains extensive collections of vegetables, medicinal, aromatic and special crops. The Olomouc team contributes expertise in germplasm conservation and characterization, phenotyping, crop quality assessment, plant stress responses, phytochemistry and metabolomics. These collections provide an opportunity to screen diverse accessions and identify promising material for breeding and organic intercropping systems, subject to applicable germplasm access conditions.

Potential project activities include:

1. Selection and characterization of diverse genotypes from existing genetic resource collections, focusing on traits potentially relevant to intercropping.

2. Comparison of selected genotypes in monoculture and organic intercropping trials across complementary environments, in collaboration with breeders and experimental farms.

3. Evaluation of crop interactions and performance through agronomic, physiological and ecological measurements, including yield stability, nutrient and water-use efficiency, pest and disease pressure, and relevant soil interactions.

4. Phytochemical and metabolomic profiling using chromatographic and mass spectrometric methods to assess crop quality, nutritional and bioactive compounds, and biochemical responses to intercropping or stress.

5. Integration of phenotypic and analytical data to identify promising genotype combinations and develop practical selection criteria for breeders, including consideration of Organic Heterogeneous Material and varieties suitable for organic production where relevant.

Expected results could include characterized genetic resources, evidence on genotype interactions in mixed cropping, candidate variety combinations, validated biochemical indicators of crop performance or quality, and recommendations for organic breeders and farmers. The project should generate transferable methods for screening and selecting varieties adapted to intercropping, with potential benefits for agrobiodiversity, sustainable production and food quality.

We are looking for a consortium with expertise in organic plant breeding, intercropping agronomy, root and soil ecology, field experimentation, quantitative genetics and data analysis, together with organic farmers, advisory organizations and other stakeholders. CARC Olomouc is interested in contributing as a research partner, particularly through genetic resource selection and characterization, biochemical analysis and metabolomics. The final objectives, crop species and work packages would be developed jointly with the consortium.

We are seeking opportunities to participate as a research partner in an international Horizon Europe consortium. CARC Olomouc can contribute specific scientific tasks or work packages related to plant genetic resources, phytochemical characterization, metabolomics and crop quality assessment. We are open to discussing our potential role and adapting our contributions to the consortium's objectives and research needs.