Defra Genetic Improvement Networks


WGIN is part of a series of Genetic Improvement Networks funded by defra. The aims of these projects are to support sustainable development of the arable sector, by investing in public sector research and enabling better collaboration between the strong UK research base and the plant breeding industry.

Defra currently funds the following four genetic improvement networks:
Biomass for Energy, Oilseed Rape, Wheat and Pulse Genetic Improvement Networks:

The aims of these projects are to support sustainable development of the arable sector, by investing in public sector research and enabling better collaboration between the strong UK research base and the plant breeding industry.

This is achieved by:
Disseminating Resources: Making available existing and generating new genomic tools and knowledge, in order to promote uptake of genomic technology
Improved Communication: Creating stakeholders' fora though which all interested parties can provide input and obtain information on the activities of the Networks.

The longer-term vision is that these Networks will help build critical mass in relevant applied strategic research in the UK so that the relevant teams become key to international 'public good' crop breeding research and can be sustained in the long term by a diverse funding base.

Organisation of projects
The structure of the largest Networks supports three types of projects:
1. A large core project that will generate, and make available in the public domain, technologies, genetic resources and
   expertise. This project has to have a management team comprising the research providers and funders with the
   responsibility for the science in the core project and management of the Network; and a stakeholders' forum, to
   promote debate, knowledge dissemination and feedback to the management team.
2. Specific, time-bound projects on traits, subjects and technologies identified as priorities, funded by Defra and other
   public research sponsors. These will generate more specific information and resources that will feed into the core
   project.
3. LINK projects led by the industry and that bring the research forward to exploitation.