A new European research and innovation project is bringing together expertise in genomics, portable technologies and secure data management to strengthen the safety and integrity of vegetable seed trade. CUSTOMICS officially kicked off in Rome in September 2026, bringing together 12 organisations from five European countries.
Using tomato seeds as an initial proof of concept, the project will develop innovative tools to help customs and phytosanitary authorities detect illegally traded seed varieties and microbiological hazards more rapidly. The approaches developed in CUSTOMICS are designed to be transferable to other vegetable species in the future.
RISE – Research and Innovation Services, part of the EURICE Group, contributes to turning the project’s research and innovation into lasting impact. RISE leads activities spanning communication and dissemination, innovation management and exploitation, stakeholder engagement and sustainability, helping connect CUSTOMICS and its solutions with the communities and organisations that can put them into practice.
The three-year project is coordinated by Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma and has a budget of approximately €2.8 million.
