The EU-funded PRO-GRACE project is pleased to announce its final dissemination event: the 2nd International Workshop on Plant Genetic Resources, taking place on 8–10 October 2025 at the Conference Centre of the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (MAICh) in Crete, Greece. The event will also be accessible online, ensuring broad participation from the global plant genetic resources (PGR) community.
This workshop marks the culmination of a nearly three-year long PRO-GRACE project, which has been dedicated to developing the concept for a new European Research Infrastructure (RI) for plant genetic resources. Building on the Plant Genetic Resources Strategy for Europe and the work of several EU-funded initiatives, PRO-GRACE has designed frameworks, standards, and a governance model to prepare the ground for GRACE-RI — a research infrastructure dedicated to cataloguing, safeguarding, and enhancing PGR for food and agriculture.
A Platform to Present PRO-GRACE Results and the GRACE-RI Vision
The workshop will serve as the project’s final dissemination event, showcasing the results achieved by PRO-GRACE and opening dialogue on the future services the GRACE-RI will provide to researchers, breeders, policymakers, and industry stakeholders.
These services are structured around four core pillars:
- Services for ex situ and in situ conservation
- Data & information management
- Characterization and (pre)breeding services
- PGR access and capacity building
By highlighting these outcomes, the event will position GRACE-RI as a cornerstone for Europe’s long-term efforts to conserve biodiversity, strengthen food security, and enable innovation in plant breeding and agriculture.
Programme Highlights
Across three days, the workshop will feature a keynote talk, scientific sessions, and stakeholder discussions designed to showcase the outcomes of PRO-GRACE and set the stage for the future GRACE-RI.
On Wednesday, 8 October, participants will explore PRO-GRACE results and legacy through sessions on ex situ and in situ conservation, data and information management, and characterization and pre-breeding services.
Thursday, 9 October will focus on access, capacity building, and phytosanitary challenges, while also presenting perspectives on the GRACE-RI concept and its future services. The day will continue with a workshop on collaboration with international organizations and research infrastructures, and will conclude with a consortium gala dinner.
On Friday, 10 October, the programme will turn to the private sector with a session organized by Euroseeds, highlighting expectations and needs from the seed industry.
Why Attend?
This event provides a unique opportunity to:
- Learn first-hand about the outcomes of the PRO-GRACE project
- Engage in shaping the future GRACE-RI services that will support the conservation, characterization, and use of PGR in Europe
- Connect with international experts from research and industry
- Contribute to discussions on biodiversity, food security, and innovation in the seed sector
Who Should Join?
- Researchers, breeders, and students working on plant genetics and agrobiodiversity
- Genebank managers and curators
- Seed industry representatives
- Policymakers, regulators, and NGOs active in biodiversity and food systems
Registration
Registration is open for both in-person and online participation: https://www.grace-ri.eu/pro-grace/news-events/news/2nd-international-workshop-on-plant-genetic-resources.
Join us in Crete — or online — for this milestone event that will shape the future of plant genetic resources in Europe and beyond.
