BELIS is pleased to co-organise a dedicated satellite workshop at the 5th International Legume Society Conference (ILS5), taking place on 8 June 2026 in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Held on the opening afternoon of the conference (14:30–17:00), this event brings together four EU-funded projects — BELIS, LEGUME GENERATION, INCREASE and PROSPER — to share results, compare approaches and open new collaboration pathways in legume research.
Four projects, one shared ambition
Although each project has its own focus and consortium, BELIS, LEGUME GENERATION, INCREASE and PROSPER are united by a common goal: strengthening the diversity, resilience and competitiveness of legumes within European agricultural systems. This workshop is an opportunity to step back and consider what has collectively been achieved, and what can be built together going forward. After a short introduction from each project, the programme unfolds across two thematic sessions.
Session 1 — Tools and data for legume innovation
The first session showcases the genomic and bioinformatic infrastructure that the four projects have developed to accelerate legume breeding. BELIS will present two of its flagship contributions: the multi-species 60K SNP array platform covering pea, faba bean, white lupin, lentil and chickpea, and the BELIS legume database, a tool designed to store and query multi-species genetic and omic data and to support translational research across species. LEGUME GENERATION will contribute two presentations on applied genomics, including the LegGen Soy 5K Trait-Specific Marker Panel developed to unlock genetic variation for soybean breeding at northern latitudes. PROSPER will address molecular phenotyping and multi-omics integration as a means of elucidating and predicting seed traits and plant ecosystem services. INCREASE will close the session with an overview of innovative genomic approaches and sequencing strategies developed within its consortium.
Together, these contributions paint a picture of a rapidly maturing toolkit for legume genomics — one that is increasingly practical, multi-species and open to the wider research and breeding community.
Session 2 — Connecting stakeholders across the legume value chain
The second session shifts the focus from data and tools to people and partnerships. Legume research only delivers its full potential when it reaches breeders, processors, farmers and policymakers — and building those connections requires deliberate effort. BELIS will share its experience of developing productive relationships with breeders and processors, drawing on lessons learned throughout the project. The session will also feature a joint contribution from BELIS and INCREASE reflecting on their respective approaches to stakeholder engagement, the challenges encountered and the models that have proven most effective.
This session is designed to be genuinely interactive. Participants are encouraged to bring their own perspectives on what it takes to bridge the gap between scientific research and the realities of the legume value chain.
Join us in Dubrovnik
The workshop welcomes up to 40 participants and is primarily aimed at researchers, breeders, value chain actors and European policymakers. Full programme details are available on the ILS5 conference website.
