DIVERSE_GENE_WATCH contributes to bioeconomy dialogue in Lithuania

DIVERSE_GENE_WATCH joined the “Day of Life Sciences, Biotechnology, and Bioeconomy” in Vilnius on 13 May 2026, contributing to discussions on current developments shaping the future of the biotechnology and bioeconomy sectors.

A key part of the programme focused on “Leveraging Genetics to Increase Bioeconomy Resilience”. During this session, participants were introduced to several inspiring projects and practical case studies, including DIVERSE_GENE_WATCH. Project coordinator Darius Danusevičius from Vytautas Magnus University presented the project’s work on developing a Forest Genetic Monitoring System for the Baltic Sea Region.

The session also featured presentations on plant phenotyping for healthy food and sustainable agrobiological resources, as well as CRISPR applications for agri-tech and industrial biotechnology. Together, these examples showed how genetic knowledge and advanced biotechnological tools can support more resilient, sustainable and innovation-driven bioeconomy pathways.

During the panel discussion, several key messages emerged from the exchange. The application of genetic techniques is receiving increasing attention in the bioeconomy, as environmental challenges, changing production conditions and consumer expectations create a growing need for advanced tools to analyse, monitor and improve biological resources, including plants and forest tree species. At the same time, regulation remains one of the main barriers to wider application. While safety remains a priority, current regulatory frameworks were discussed as focusing strongly on the methods used, rather than on the safety and characteristics of final products. This can slow down the development of research services, practical applications and market-ready solutions.

Another important takeaway was the need to increase awareness and acceptance among various stakeholder groups, including not only policymakers but also bioeconomy businesses and the wider public. Scientific evidence and communication also need to be tailored to specific target groups. Demonstrating real-life solutions and products could be an effective way to build trust and understanding.

For DIVERSE_GENE_WATCH, the event offered an important opportunity to connect forest genetic monitoring and biodiversity-related expertise with broader bioeconomy innovation discussions in Lithuania and the Baltic Sea Region.

The event was co-organised by LithuaniaBIO, the Research Council of Lithuania, and the consortia of DIVERSE_GENE_WATCH and BIO-INSPIRE. The workshop gathered 58 participants from Lithuania and several other European countries, including Poland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Hungary, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Greece. Participants represented bioeconomy innovation clusters, businesses, research organisations and governmental institutions supporting research and innovation.

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