Research projects

INCREASE was a European research and innovation project aimed at improving the conservation, management and sustainable use of food legume genetic resources. By combining advanced scientific approaches, digital technologies and citizen participation, the project contributed to safeguarding agrobiodiversity and promoting more sustainable and resilient European agri-food systems.

The project focused on four important food legumes: common bean, chickpea, lentil and lupin. Through genomic research, extensive field experiments and innovative data management approaches, INCREASE explored their genetic diversity and identified valuable traits related to productivity, nutritional quality, disease resistance and adaptation to changing environmental conditions.

A central achievement was the development of Intelligent Collections – carefully selected collections of genetic resources representing the diversity of each crop. These resources facilitate the conservation, characterisation and use of plant genetic material, providing valuable tools for researchers, gene banks and plant breeders.

Key Results

Over six years, INCREASE delivered important scientific and practical results, including:

• Development of Intelligent Collections for four major food legumes, supported by genomic and phenotypic data.
• Identification of genetic factors associated with important agricultural traits, including drought tolerance, disease resistance and environmental adaptation.
• Development of the INCREASE Web Portal, providing open access to genetic resources data and supporting their use in research and plant breeding.
• Establishment of an international Stakeholder Consortium connecting research institutions, gene banks, breeders and other organisations to promote the long-term use of project results.

These achievements contributed to improving the accessibility and use of plant genetic resources and laid the groundwork for future innovation in sustainable agriculture.

Citizen Science Experiment

One of the most distinctive achievements of INCREASE was its large-scale Citizen Science Experiment, which directly involved citizens in the conservation and study of common bean diversity.

Through a dedicated mobile application, participants across Europe grew different bean varieties in their gardens, schools and other locations, recording observations and contributing valuable data to scientific research.

Over six growing seasons, more than 27,000 citizens registered to participate, demonstrating the potential of public involvement in scientific research and decentralised conservation of plant genetic resources.

The experiment received international recognition and was awarded the EU Prize for Citizen Science in 2024.

Partnership

INCREASE was coordinated by the Università Politecnica delle Marche (Italy) and brought together an international consortium of research institutions, universities and other organisations, including the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia.

The project also established a wider Stakeholder Consortium of more than 150 members, supporting the exchange and practical application of project results beyond the original partnership.

Funding

INCREASE received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 862862.