Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
OREGIN Oilseeds Genetic Improvement Network
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Project Outline & Mission

The Oilseeds Genetic Improvement Network (OREGIN) provides a vital pre-breeding pipeline to integrate sustainability traits into oilseed cultivars.

The Mission

To provide a focus for UK Oilseeds genetic improvement R&D and stakeholder communities, establishing a mechanism for prioritising research requirements in line with Defra strategic objectives.

Principal Activities

The generation, gathering, collation, and dissemination of information and genetic resources for the benefit of the UK stakeholder community.

Strategic Objectives

The OREGIN project addresses the highest priority requirements of the R&D and breeder communities. Key areas of focus include:

Pre-breeding Platform

Providing a foundation for projects achieving improvements in sustainability through crop genetic improvement.

Trait Prioritisation

Continual assessment of commercial priorities, including emerging areas such as pest resistance.

Sustainability

Enhancing the long-term viability of the UK Oilseed Rape crop through targeted genetic innovation, and exploring the potential of hemp and sunflower as alternative oilseed crops

Knowledge Transfer

Acting as a hub for the dissemination of genetic resources and research findings to stakeholders.

"OREGIN has been successful in achieving its initial objectives of providing a focus for the UK Oilseeds genetic improvement R&D and stakeholder communities."