The Biogenoma-IEC programme will fund three research projects coordinated by the University of Barcelona as part of its fifth call for proposals, aimed at preserving biodiversity, protecting it from the effects of climate change and ensuring it is compatible with the use of natural resources.
Thanks to the support of the Directorate-General for Research of the Government of Catalonia, 10 projects have been awarded funding this year to analyse the complete genetic information of 58 species of high biotechnological, agricultural or ecological value from Catalan-speaking regions, with a particular focus on those that are threatened or of biotechnological or commercial interest.
These 58 species are in addition to the nearly 200 that have been under analysis since 2019. For the first time, the programme includes fungal species, alongside invertebrates (marine and terrestrial), reptiles and amphibians. The results will be incorporated into the Catalan Biogenome Project (CBP).
The new projects, led by universities and research centres in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, will involve a total investment of more than half a million euros over two years, with research staff from 14 institutions taking part.
