studying Crop Wild Relatives

COUSIN is a research project that studies five Crop Wild Relatives (CWRs). CWRs are the wild cousins of our cultivated crops and crucial sources of genetic diversity. They will play a key role in driving the shift towards more sustainable, diverse, and nutritious agricultural systems, aligning with the goals of the EU Green Deal and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

much of the global food supply relies on a limited number of plant species, leading to a significant loss of plant genetic diversity since the early 20th century. This trend highlights the potential of CWRs as essential players in the future of agriculture, offering a pathway to recover lost biodiversity and enhance the resilience of our food systems.

in COUSIN, we are going to develop specific communication actions to promote the scientific results of our partners’ work.