Join the Joint Final Event of GEroNIMO and RUMIGEN projects, titled Breeding the Future Livestock: Sustainability through Genomics, Epigenomics and Society.

The event will take place onWednesday, 15th of April, at the University Foundation, in Brussels (Rue D'egmont 11, 1000 Brussels)

Agenda and topics

8:30 Session 1 - From Lab to Legitimacy: Social Acceptance of New Breeding Technologies

• Beyond ‘experts only’: on the importance of stakeholder and public engagement in the debate on innovations in breeding, Franck Meijboom (UU) 

• Make it make sense!: From citizen engagement to useful guidance, Rasmus Mikkelsen (DemoX) 

• Invited speakers & Panel discussion  

10:00 Coffee break 

10:30 Session 2 - Editing for Resilience and Welfare: Scientific Readiness and Policy Implications & Panel discussion  

• Gene editing to support genetic improvement in livestock, Simon Lillico (UEDIN) 

• Epigenome editing in animal production: A prospective review, Guillaume Devailly (INRAE) 

• The management of rare alleles, including GE, in breeding schemes, Theo Meuwissen (NMBU) 

• Dual-purpose lines simulation of genomic edition, Edward Chuang (GABI) 

 12:30 Lunch break 

13:30 Session 3 - Epigenetics: A new lever to Resilience and Efficiency?

• The RUMIGEN EpiChip, a sensor of environment and breeding practices, Gabriel Costa Monteiro Moreira (INRAE) 

• Epigenetic dynamics in chicken brain throughout animal life, Carlos Guerrero Bosagna 

• The sperm epigenome: role in male fertility, transmission and impact on offspring phenotype, Hélène Kiefer (INRAE) 

• Molecular fingerprints of pig male reproduction from omics data, Pedro Sa (WUR)  

• Integration of GEroNIMO omics data to reveal details about the genetic architecture behind efficiency-related traits, Peter Karlskov-Mortensen (UCPH) 

• The RUMIGEN EpiChip: integration of epigenetics into dairy cow selection, Marie-Pierre Sanchez (INRAE) 

• Tagging non-genetic inheritance using the transmissibility models, Ingrid David (INRAE) 

15:30 Coffee break 

16:00 Session 4 – Next-Generation Selection: Integrating Genomics, Epigenetics and Adaptability

• Selection, genetic load and diversity, Theo Meuwissen (NMBU) 

• Trade-offs - evolution and use in breeding strategies,  Mario Calus (WU) 

• Including methylation in genomic prediction, Ioanna Vourlaki (IRTA) & Levi Ayres (WUR) 

• Selection strategies for heat-stress tolerance, Sophie Mattalia (IDELE) 

• Perspectives on the use of the EpiChip for breeding and animal husbandry purposes,  Oscar Gonzales-Recio (UEDIN) 

• Strategies to maintain and improve local and small breeds, Marie-José Mercat (IFIP) 

17:30 Turning Research into Practice and What’s Next?

• Panel discussion  

18:30 Closing 

Deadline to attend in presence: 1 April 2026
Deadline to attend online: 7 April 2026